PROSPECTUS
Footprints Discover Value Fund
(DVALX)
March 27, 2020
Advised by:
www.footprintsfund.com 1-877-328-5468
This Prospectus provides important information about the Fund that you should know before investing. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Beginning in 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Fund or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker- dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically by calling the Fund at 1-800-595-4866, or submit a signed letter of instruction requesting paperless reports to 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, Ohio, 44147. If you own these shares through a financial intermediary, you may contact your financial intermediary to request your shareholder reports electronically.
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. You can inform the Fund that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports calling the Fund at 1-800-595-4866, or by submitting a signed letter of instruction requesting paper reports to 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, Ohio, 44147. If you own these shares through a financial intermediary, contact the financial intermediary to request paper copies. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held with the fund complex or your financial intermediary.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FUND SUMMARY 1 Investment Objective 1 Fees and Expenses of the Fund 1 Principal Investment Strategies 2 Principal Investment Risks 2 Performance 3 Investment Adviser 4 Investment Adviser Portfolio Manager 4 Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares 4 Tax Information 4 Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries 4 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT 4 STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS Investment Objective 4 Principal Investment Strategies 5 Principal Investment Risks 6 Temporary Investments 7 Portfolio Holdings Disclosure 7 Cybersecurity 7 MANAGEMENT 8 Investment Adviser 8 Investment Adviser Portfolio Manager 8 HOW SHARES ARE PRICED 8 HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES 8 HOW TO REDEEM SHARES 12 FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES 13 TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS 14 DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES 15 Distributor 15 Distribution Fees 15 Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries 15 Householding 16 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 16 Privacy Notice 17
FUND SUMMARY
Investment Objective: Total return from capital appreciation and income.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund: This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts on purchases of shares if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Fund. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares on page 4 of the Fund’s Prospectus.
Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment) Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases 5.75% (as a % of offering price) Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) None Maximum Sales Charge (Load) None Imposed on Reinvested Dividends and other Distributions Redemption Fee 1.00% (as a % of amount redeemed, if sold within 90 days) Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) Management Fees 1.00% Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees 0.25% Other Expenses 2.26% Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (1) 0.02% Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 3.53% Fee Waiver (2) (1.56)% Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver 1.97%
(1) Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are the indirect costs of investing in other investment companies, including exchange traded funds. The operating expenses in this fee table will not correlate to the expense ratio in the Fund's financial highlights, when issued, because the financial statements include only the direct operating expenses incurred by the Fund. (2) The Fund's adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and reimburse expenses of the Fund, at least until March 31, 2021 to ensure that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Reimbursement (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads; brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); taxes; and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees, and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the adviser)) will not exceed 1.95% of the Fund's daily net assets. Fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (three years from the date that the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment does not cause the Fund’s expense ratio (after the repayment is taken into account) to exceed both: (i) the Fund’s expense cap in place at the time such expenses were waived, and (ii) the Fund’s current expense cap at the time of recoupment. This agreement may be terminated only by the Trust's Board of Trustees, on 60 days' written notice to the Fund's adviser.
Example: This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based upon these assumptions your costs would be:
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years $763 $1,459 $2,175 $4,060
1
Portfolio Turnover: The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal period, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 105.39% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies: The Fund's adviser seeks to achieve the Fund's investment objective by investing primarily in common stock and fixed income securities of domestic issuers using the adviser's "Absolute Value" strategy. This strategy relies upon both fundamental and technical analysis to select securities the adviser believes are undervalued and mispriced by the markets.
The adviser uses qualitative and quantitative elements of fundamental analysis, including the use of internal and external resources, to identify securities currently discounted by the market such as those selling below the replacement cost of assets they represent. To determine if a company, in total, is being undervalued, the adviser's research team derives an estimate of the company's Absolute Value from key components, including management's competency, experience, culture, and ownership as well as earnings potential, free cash flow, current debt load, asset replacement cost and sector fundamentals. Once fundamentally-screened discounted securities are identified, the adviser assesses the risk and rewards of securities of the company at various levels of the capital structure (debt or common stock). After identifying the appropriate investment vehicle within the capital structure, the adviser uses technical analysis, such as a trend- following or a momentum-based price forecast, to identify what it believes is the optimal purchase price.
The Fund invests without restriction as to issuer capitalization, or the credit quality rating and maturity of fixed income securities. With respect to the fixed income portion of the Fund's portfolio, the adviser invests primarily in lower quality rated corporate debt commonly known as "junk bonds." Junk bonds are rated lower than Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") or lower than BBB- by Standard and Poor's Rating Group ("S&P").
The adviser seeks capital appreciation from common and preferred stocks and fixed income securities as well as income from dividends or interest to generate total return. The Fund's adviser does not have a set asset allocation target between such equity and fixed income securities. The adviser sells a security once a price target is reached, when more attractive investments are available or to optimally re-allocate Fund assets consistent with the adviser's Absolute Value strategy.
The Fund is non-diversified which means that it can invest a greater percentage of its assets in any one issuer than a diversified fund.
Principal Investment Risks: As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose money through your investment in the Fund. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program. Many factors affect the Fund's net asset value and performance.
• Equity Risk: Common stock prices can fall rapidly in response to developments affecting a specific company or industry, or to changing economic, political or market conditions. Preferred stocks are hybrid securities that have characteristics of both fixed income securities and common stocks and are subject to fixed income risks and common stock risk. • Fixed Income Risk: Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities. The value of fixed income securities typically falls when an issuer' credit quality declines and may even become worthless if an issuer defaults. Recently, interest rates have been historically low. Current conditions may result in a decline in the value of the fixed income securities held by the Fund. As a result, for the person, interest rate risk may be heightened. • Junk Bond Risk: Lower-quality fixed income securities, known as "high yield" or "junk" bonds, present greater risk than bonds of higher quality, including an increased risk of default. These securities are considered speculative. Defaulted securities or those subject to reorganization proceeding may become worthless and are illiquid. • Management Risk: The adviser's reliance on its value strategy and judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential capital appreciation of particular securities may prove to be incorrect and may not produce the desired results. • Market Risk: Overall equity and fixed income securities market risks affect the value of the Fund. Factors such as domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the US and international securities markets.
2 • Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers. The Fund's performance may be more sensitive to any single economic, business, political or regulatory occurrence than the value of shares of a diversified investment company. The Fund's performance may be affected disproportionately by the performance of relatively few stocks. In addition, the volatility of the Fund may be greater that the overall volatility of the market. • Small and Medium Capitalization Stock Risk: The price of small or medium capitalization company stocks may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. • Value Investing Risk: Value investing has time and price risks. When a position is purchased at a deeply discounted price, it may take a considerable amount of time for the company to turn around its fundamentals centered on a specific catalyst. Price risk is realized when a position is purchased at a price level that was thought to be at a low but the company experienced, for any given reason, further price decline.
Performance: The bar chart and performance table below show the variability of the Fund's returns, which is some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows performance of the Fund's shares for each full calendar year since the Fund's inception. The performance table compares the performance of the Fund's shares over time to the performance of a broad-based securities market index. You should be aware that the Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) may not be an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available at no cost by visiting www.footprintfund.com or by calling 1-877-328-5468.
0.00% 2018 2019
-5.00%
-10.00%
-12.65% -15.00%
-20.00%
-22.73% -25.00%
Best Quarter: September 30, 2019 8.00% Worst Quarter: December 31, 2018 -20.34%
3
Performance Table Average Annual Total Returns (For period ended December 31, 2019)
1 year Since Inception* Return before taxes -17.62% -20.13% Return after taxes on distributions -17.79% -22.18% Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares -10.43% -15.61% S&P 500 Index 31.49% 11.92% (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)
* Inception December 26, 2017
After-tax returns are calculated using the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rate and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on a shareholder's tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns are not relevant if you hold your Fund shares in tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts ("IRA"). The S&P 500 Index is a market value-weighted index, representing the aggregate market value of the common equity of 500 stocks primarily traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The S&P 500 Index is a widely recognized, unmanaged index of common stock prices. The figures for the S&P 500 Index reflect all dividends reinvested but do not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes.
Investment Adviser: Footprints Asset Management & Research, Inc. is the Fund's investment adviser.
Investment Adviser Portfolio Manager: Stephen Lococo, Chartered Market Technician "CMT®", President of the adviser, has served the Fund as its Portfolio Manager since it commenced operations in 2017.
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares: The investment minimums for the Fund are:
Initial Investment Subsequent Investment Regular Retirement Regular Retirement Account Account Account Account $10,000 $5,000 $100 $100
The Fund reserves the right to waive any minimum. You may purchase and redeem shares of the Fund on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open. Redemption requests may be made in writing, by telephone, or through a financial intermediary and will be paid by ACH, check or wire transfer.
Tax Information: Dividends and capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund, whether you reinvest your distributions in additional Fund shares or receive them in cash, are taxable to you at either ordinary income or capital gains tax rates unless you are investing through a tax-deferred plan such as an IRA or 401(k) plan. However, these dividend and capital gain distributions may be taxable upon their eventual withdrawal from tax-deferred plans.
Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries: If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's website for more information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RELATED RISKS
Investment Objective:
The Fund's investment objective is total return from capital appreciation and income. The Fund's investment objective may be changed by the Trust's Board of Trustees upon 60 days' written notice to shareholders.
4 Principal Investment Strategies:
The Fund's adviser seeks to achieve the Fund's investment objective by investing primarily in common stock and fixed income securities of domestic issuers using the adviser's "Absolute Value" strategy. This strategy relies upon both fundamental and technical analysis to select securities the adviser believes are undervalued and mispriced by the markets.
Investment Philosophy
The adviser believes that a multitude of factors work together to influence the marketplace. These elements converge to form the current market price for a given investment. This price formation is often times inaccurate and not reflective of an investment's true value. The adviser seeks to arrive at a potential investment's worth independently through discovering its Absolute Value. In the adviser's opinion, undervalued investments will, over time, be appreciated in the marketplace. The attractiveness of an investment is derived by the difference between its current market price and its Absolute Value. The adviser calls this price spread an investment's "Margin of Safety." Generally, the adviser seeks securities considered undervalued and mispriced by the markets. The adviser enters (buys) security positions with an attractive Margin of Safety and an expectation of price appreciation over an equity market cycle of several years.
Investment Process
The adviser's investment process incorporates the entire lifecycle of an investment. The process is represented in the diagram below, and explained in detail by each element of the process.
Investment Lifecycle
Source Ideas
Exit Research
Hold Acquire
Source Ideas
The adviser sources ideas from a variety of internal and external resources. The adviser uses numerous broker dealers, subscription services, and in-house analysis to assist in facilitating idea generation for possible investment opportunities.
Research Process
The adviser's research process starts by identifying common stocks selling at or below their book value. The adviser then gathers data about each potential investment, applying multiple ratios and metrics, to assess the adviser's opinion of its Absolute Value. The adviser then determines if enough spread exists between an investment's Absolute Value and its current market price. A security with ample spread, or Margin of Safety, will then be scrutinized for its management's qualitative attributes (competence, experience, ownership, and culture). The adviser then selects the appropriate level of the capital structure to invest (common stock or debt). Through the use of technical analysis, the adviser identifies an optimal price range to acquire the security. Once all of these conditions are met, the security is placed on the buy list. This process can be seen by the diagram to the right. 5
Acquire Process
The acquisition of securities into the Fund is heavily influenced by the current composition of the Fund's holdings and its present requirements. If an investment revealed by the research process is considered suitable for the Fund, the adviser will originate or add to an existing position. The acquisition process is generally initiated by the security entering into an attractive price range, insider purchases, or other fundamental improvements. Acquisitions are gradually entered into, dependent mostly on an investment staying within its optimal price range maintaining the desired Margin of Safety. When selecting fixed income securities, the adviser may consider the duration of the security, although the adviser does not apply any specific duration limits to the portfolio.
Hold Process
The adviser consistently assesses the value of existing positions in the Fund. Generally, the adviser exercises patience when fundamentals are stable but prices volatile. The adviser may at times write covered call options on a small portion of existing common stock positions in the Fund to generate premium.
Exit Process
The adviser's decision to exit a position can be initiated by numerous factors. Steep increases in price, revealing short- term over-buying, may lead the adviser to exit a portion of an investment to mitigate price risk (risk of a price falling). Re- allocations whether for new opportunities or Fund requirements (e.g. liquidity) may also lead the adviser to exit particular positions. When the adviser deems a change in fundamentals or a shift in management to negatively impact an investment, the adviser may exit the position. The Fund may also exit positions as part of contractual obligations (e.g. calling bonds, options exercise, credit obligation maturity, etc.).
Principal Investment Risks: • Equity Risk: Common stock prices may rise or fall because of economic or political changes. Stock prices, in general, may decline over short or even extended periods of time, and tend to be more volatile than other investment choices. Market prices of equity securities in broad market segments may be adversely affected by a prominent issuer having experienced losses or by the lack of earnings or such an issuer's failure to meet the market's expectations with respect to new products or services, or even by factors wholly unrelated to the value or condition of the issuer, such as changes in interest rates. The value of preferred stocks will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of preferred stock. Preferred stocks are also subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that an issuer of preferred stock will fail to make its dividend payments. Preferred stock prices tend to move more slowly upwards than common stock prices. • Fixed Income Risk: Fixed income risk factors include credit risk (the debtor may default) and prepayment risk (the debtor may pay its obligation early or later than expected, potentially reducing the amount of interest payments or extending time to principal repayment). These risks could affect the value of a particular investment possibly causing the Fund's share price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments. When the Fund invests in fixed income securities the value of your investment in the Fund will fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in interest rates causes a decline in the value of fixed income securities. In general, the market price of debt securities with longer maturities will increase or decrease more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term securities. • Junk Bond Risk: Lower-quality fixed income securities, known as "high yield" or "junk" bonds, present a significant risk for loss of principal and interest. These securities are considered speculative. These bonds offer the potential for higher return, but also involve greater risk than bonds of higher quality, including an increased possibility that the bond's issuer, obligor or guarantor may not be able to make its payments of interest and principal (credit quality risk). If that happens, the value of the bond may decrease, and the Fund's share price may decrease and its income distribution may be reduced. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates (interest rate risk) could adversely affect the market for these bonds and reduce the Fund's ability to sell its bonds (liquidity risk). Such securities may also include "Rule 144A" securities, which are subject to resale restrictions. The lack of a liquid market for these bonds could decrease the Fund's share price. Defaulted securities, those subject to a reorganization including bankruptcy court protection may become worthless, completely illiquid or subject to lengthy legal proceedings that will delay the resolution of their value, if any. • Management Risk: The adviser's reliance on its value strategy and its judgments about the value and potential capital appreciation securities in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect. The ability of the Fund to meet its investment objective is directly related to the adviser's proprietary investment process. The adviser's
6 assessment of the relative value of securities, their attractiveness and potential capital appreciation of particular investments in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect and there is no guarantee that the adviser's investment strategy will produce the desired results. • Market Risk: Overall equity and fixed income market risk, including volatility, may affect the value of individual instruments in which the Fund invests. Factors such as domestic economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels, and political events affect the securities markets. When the value of the Fund's investments goes down, your investment in the Fund decreases in value and you could lose money. • Non-Diversification Risk: As a non-diversified fund, the Fund may invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of one or more issuers. The Fund's performance may be more sensitive to any single economic, business, political or regulatory occurrence than the value of shares of a diversified investment company. Because the Fund may invest a high percentage of its assets in its largest holdings, the Fund's performance may be affected disproportionately by the performance of relatively few stocks. In addition, the volatility of the Fund may be greater that the overall volatility of the market. • Small and Medium Capitalization Stock Risk: The stocks of small and medium capitalization companies involve substantial risk. These companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, and they may be dependent on a limited management group. Stocks of these companies may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than those of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general.
Temporary Investments: To respond to adverse market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund may invest 100% of its total assets, without limitation, in high-quality short-term debt securities and money market instruments. These short-term debt securities and money market instruments include: shares of money market mutual funds, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, bankers' acceptances, U.S. Government securities and repurchase agreements. While the Fund is in a defensive position, the opportunity to achieve its investment objective will be limited. Furthermore, to the extent that the Fund invests in money market mutual funds for cash positions, there will be some duplication of expenses because shareholders will pay the fees and expenses of the Fund and, indirectly, the fees and expenses of the underlying money market funds. The Fund may also invest a substantial portion of its assets in such instruments at any time to maintain liquidity or pending selection of investments in accordance with its policies.
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure: A description of the Fund's policies regarding the release of portfolio holdings information is available in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
Cybersecurity: The computer systems, networks and devices used by the Fund and its service providers to carry out routine business operations employ a variety of protections designed to prevent damage or interruption from computer viruses, network failures, computer and telecommunication failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons and security breaches. Despite the various protections utilized by the Fund and their service providers, systems, networks, or devices potentially can be breached. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively impacted as a result of a cybersecurity breach.
Cybersecurity breaches can include unauthorized access to systems, networks, or devices; infection from computer viruses or other malicious software code; and attacks that shut down, disable, slow, or otherwise disrupt operations, business processes, or website access or functionality. Cybersecurity breaches may cause disruptions and impact the Fund's business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses; interference with the Fund's ability to calculate its net asset value ("NAV"); impediments to trading; the inability of the Fund, the adviser, and other service providers to transact business; violations of applicable privacy and other laws; regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs; as well as the inadvertent release of confidential information.
Similar adverse consequences could result from cybersecurity breaches affecting issuers of securities in which the Fund invests; counterparties with which the Fund engages in transactions; governmental and other regulatory authorities; exchange and other financial market operators, banks, brokers, dealers, insurance companies, and other financial institutions (including financial intermediaries and service providers for the Fund's shareholders); and other parties. In addition, substantial costs may be incurred by these entities in order to prevent any cybersecurity breaches in the future.
MANAGEMENT
Investment Adviser: Footprints Asset Management & Research, Inc., 11422 Miracle Hills Drive, Suite 208, Omaha, NE 68154, serves as investment adviser to the Fund (the "Adviser"). Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for management of the Fund's investment portfolio. The Adviser is responsible for selecting the Fund's investments according to the Fund's investment objective, policies and restrictions. The Adviser was established in 2003 for the purpose of providing investment and financial planning advice to individuals and institutions. As of March
7 1, 2020 the Adviser had approximately $87.07 million in assets under management.
Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement between the Trust, on behalf of the Fund, and the Adviser, the Adviser is entitled to receive, on a monthly basis, an annual advisory fee equal to 1.00% of the Fund's average daily net assets. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and reimburse expenses of the Fund, at least until March 30, 2021 to ensure that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Reimbursement (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads; brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); taxes; and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees, and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the Adviser)) will not exceed 1.95% of the Fund's average daily net assets. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Adviser received a fee equal to 0.56% of the average daily net assets of the Fund, after fee waivers and reimbursements.
Fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund in future years on a rolling three-year basis (within the three years after the fees have been waived or reimbursed) if such recoupment can be achieved within the foregoing expense limits and any then-current expense limit. These agreements may be terminated only by the Trust's Board of Trustees, on 60 days' written notice to the Adviser. Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease a fund's expenses and boost its performance. A discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Trustees' approval of the advisory agreement is available in the Fund's annual report to shareholders for the period ended November 30, 2019.
Investment Adviser Portfolio Manager:
Steve Lococo, CMT® founded the Adviser in 2003 and serves as its President. Mr. Lococo is also a registered representative of GVC Capital LLC, a registered broker-dealer (2003–present). Prior to founding the Adviser, Mr. Lococo was a registered representative for Smith Hayes Financial Services (2002-2003), Kirkpatrick Pettis (1990-2002), Paine Webber (1984-1990), and worked in various positions within the broker-dealer First Mid-America (1976-1984). Mr. Lococo holds a BA in Finance from the University of Nebraska and has acquired several industry licenses, including NASD (presently FINRA) Series 7, 24, 63, and 65 licenses and is a Level II Chartered Market Technician. He was the portfolio manager to the Footprints Discover Value Fund, a series of Northern Lights Fund Trust III, from December 2012 until it was liquidated in December 2017. He has served as the Fund's portfolio manager since its inception.
The Fund's Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the Portfolio Manager's compensation structure, other accounts managed by the Portfolio Manager, and the Portfolio Manager's ownership of shares of the Fund.
HOW SHARES ARE PRICED
The Fund's NAV is calculated by taking the total value of the Fund's assets, subtracting its liabilities, and then dividing by the total number of shares outstanding, rounded to the nearest cent. The Fund's assets are generally valued at their market value using market quotations. The Fund may use pricing services to determine market value. If market prices are not available or, in the Adviser's opinion, market prices do not reflect fair value, or if an event occurs after the close of trading on the domestic or foreign exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (but prior to the time the NAV is calculated) that materially affects fair value, the Adviser will value the Fund's assets at their fair value according to policies approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees. For example, if trading in a portfolio security is halted and does not resume before the Fund calculates its NAV, the Adviser may need to price the security using the Fund's fair value pricing guidelines. Without a fair value price, short term traders could take advantage of the arbitrage opportunity and dilute the NAV of long term investors. Securities trading on overseas markets present time zone arbitrage opportunities when events effecting portfolio security values occur after the close of the overseas market, but prior to the close of the U.S. market. Because foreign securities trade on days when the Fund's shares are not priced, the value of securities held by the Fund can change on days when the Fund's shares cannot be purchased or redeemed. Fair valuation of the Fund's portfolio securities can serve to reduce arbitrage opportunities available to short term traders, but there is no assurance that fair value pricing policies will prevent dilution of the Fund's NAV by short term traders. Fair valuation involves subjective judgments and it is possible that the fair value determined for a security may differ materially from the value that could be realized upon the sale of the security. The Fund may invest in ETFs and other investment companies ("Underlying Funds"). When the Fund invests in Underlying Funds, the Fund's NAV is calculated based, in part, upon the market prices of the Underlying Funds. The prospectuses of those companies explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing.
8 HOW TO PURCHASE SHARES
Purchasing Shares: This section of the prospectus explains the basics of doing business with the Fund. Fund shares can be held directly with the Fund or indirectly through an intermediary, such as a bank, a broker, or an investment advisor. If you hold Fund shares directly, you should carefully read each topic within this section that pertains to your relationship with the Fund. If you hold Fund shares indirectly through an intermediary refer to your account agreement with the intermediary for information about transacting in that account.
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. This means that when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We also may ask for other identifying documents or information, and may take additional steps to verify your identity. We may not be able to open your account or complete a transaction for you until we are able to verify your identity. You may buy shares on any "business day." Business days are Monday through Friday, other than days the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is closed, including the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Purchase orders received in "proper form" by the Fund's transfer agent before the close of trading on the NYSE will be effective at the NAV next calculated after your order is received, plus applicable sales charges. On occasion, the NYSE closes before 4:00 p.m. Eastern time (“ET”). When that happens, purchase orders received after the NYSE closes will be effective the following business day.
To be in "proper form," the purchase order must include:
• Fund name and account number; • Account name(s) and address; • The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to purchase.
The Fund may limit the amount of purchases and refuse to sell to any person. The initial and subsequent investment minimums for the Fund by account type are:
Initial Investment Subsequent Investment Regular Account Retirement Account Regular Account Retirement Account $10,000 $5,000 $100 $100
How to Initiate a Purchase Request
By mail. You may send the Fund your Shareholder Account Application form and check to open a new fund account. If you are purchasing directly from the Fund, send the completed Shareholder Account Application and a check payable to the Fund to the following address:
Footprints Discover Value Fund c/o Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400 Broadview Heights, OH 44147-4031
By telephone. You may call the Fund to begin the account registration process or request that the account-opening forms be sent to you. If you are investing directly in the Fund for the first time, please call the Fund's transfer agent at 1- 877-328-5468 to request a Shareholder Account Application. You will need to establish an account before investing. Be sure to sign up for all the account options that you plan to take advantage of. For example, if you would like to be able to redeem your shares by telephone, you should select this option on your Shareholder Account Application. Doing so when you open your account means that you will not need to complete additional paperwork later.
Online. You may open certain types of accounts and request a purchase of shares through the Fund’s website if you are registered for online access.
Automatic Investment Plan. You may open an automatic investment plan account subject to the initial investment minimums stated above and add to your account with a minimum $50 monthly investment. If you have an existing account that does not include the automatic investment plan, you can contact the Fund’s transfer agent to establish an automatic investment plan. The automatic investment plan provides a convenient method to have monies deducted directly from your bank account for investment in the Fund. You may authorize the automatic withdrawal of funds from your bank 9 account for a minimum amount of $50. The Fund may alter, modify or terminate this plan at any time. To begin participating in this plan, please complete the Automatic Investment Plan Section found on the application or contact the Fund at 1-877-328-5468.
How to Pay for a Purchase
By electronic bank transfer. You may purchase shares of the Fund through an electronic transfer of money from a bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate the bank account online, or fill out the appropriate section of your Shareholder Account Application form. After the service is set up on your account, you can purchase shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Investment Plan) or upon request. Your purchase request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.
By wire. If you choose to pay by wire, you must call the Fund's transfer agent, at 1-877-328-5468 to obtain instructions on how to complete the wire transfer. Wire orders will be accepted only on a day on which the Fund's, custodian and transfer agent are open for business. A wire purchase will not be considered made until the wired money and the purchase order are received by the Fund. Any delays that may occur in wiring money, including delays that may occur in processing by the banks, are not the responsibility of the Fund or its transfer agent. The Fund presently does not charge a fee for the receipt of wired funds, but the Fund may charge shareholders for this service in the future.
By check. All purchases (both initial and subsequent) must be made in U.S. dollars and checks must be drawn on U.S. banks. Cash, credit cards and third party checks will not be accepted. Third party checks and checks drawn on a non- U.S. financial institution will not be accepted, even if payment may be effected through a U.S. financial institution. Checks made payable to any individual or company and endorsed to the Fund are considered third-party checks.
A $20 fee will be charged against your account for any payment check returned to the transfer agent or for any incomplete electronic funds transfer, or for insufficient funds, stop payment, closed account or other reasons. If a check does not clear your bank or the Fund is unable to debit your pre-designated bank account on the day of purchase, the Fund reserves the right to cancel the purchase. If your purchase is canceled, you will be responsible for any losses or fees imposed by your bank and losses that may be incurred as a result of a decline in the value of the canceled purchase. The Fund and the Fund’s transfer agent each have the authority to redeem shares in your account(s) to cover any losses due to fluctuations in share price. Any profit on such cancellation will accrue to the Fund.
Sales Charges, Reductions and Waivers
Shares are offered at the public offering price, which is NAV per share plus the applicable sales charge. The sales charge varies, depending on how much you invest. There are no sales charges on reinvested distributions. You can also qualify for a sales charge reduction or waiver through a right of accumulation or a letter of intent if you are a U.S. resident. See the discussions of "Right of Accumulation" and "Letter of Intent" below. The Fund reserves the right to waive any load as described below. Additional information regarding the Fund’s sales load is not provided on the Fund’s website because all relevant information is provided in this prospectus. The following sales charges apply to all shareholders regardless of how they purchased shares of the Fund, except as noted in the section entitled Sales Charge Waivers below:
Sales Charge Sales Charge as a % of as a % of Dealer Amount Invested Offering Price Amount Invested Reallowance Under $25,000 5.75% 6.10% 5.00% $25,000 to $49,999 5.00% 5.26% 4.25% $50,000 to $99,999 4.75% 4.99% 4.00% $100,000 to $249,999 3.75% 3.83% 3.25% $250,000 to $499,999 2.50% 2.56% 2.00% $500,000 to $999,999 2.00% 2.04% 1.75% $1,000,000 and above 1.00% 1.01% 1.00%.
How to Reduce Your Sales Charge
You may be eligible to purchase shares at a reduced sales charge. To qualify for these reductions, you must notify the Fund's distributor, Arbor Court Capital, LLC (the "distributor"), in writing and supply your account number at the time of purchase. You may combine your purchase with those of your "immediate family" (your spouse and your children under the age of 21) for purposes of determining eligibility. If applicable, you will need to provide the account numbers of your
10 spouse and your minor children as well as the ages of your minor children.
Rights of Accumulation: To qualify for the lower sales charge rates that apply to larger purchases of shares, you may combine your new purchases of shares with shares of the Fund that you already own. The applicable initial sales charge for the new purchase is based on the total of your current purchase and the current value of all other shares that you own. The reduced sales charge will apply only to current purchases and must be requested in writing when you buy your shares.
Shares of the Fund held as follows cannot be combined with your current purchase for purposes of reduced sales charges: • Shares held indirectly through financial intermediaries other than your current purchase broker-dealer (for example, a different broker-dealer, a bank, a separate insurance company account or an investment advisor); • Shares held through an administrator or trustee/custodian of an Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (for example, a 401(k) plan) other than employer-sponsored IRAs; and • Shares held directly in the Fund account on which the broker-dealer (financial advisor) of record is different than your current purchase broker-dealer.
Letters of Intent: Under a Letter of Intent ("LOI"), you commit to purchase a specified dollar amount of shares of the Fund, with a minimum of $25,000, during a 13-month period. The 13-month period begins upon the date of the LOI. At your written request, share purchases made during the 90 days prior to the LOI may be included. The amount you agree to purchase determines the initial sales charge you pay. If the full-face amount of the LOI is not invested by the end of the 13-month period, your account will be adjusted to the higher initial sales charge level for the amount actually invested. You are not legally bound by the terms of your LOI to purchase the amount of your shares stated in the LOI. The LOI does, however, authorize the Fund to hold in escrow 5% of the total amount you intend to purchase. If you do not complete the total intended purchase at the end of the 13-month period, the Fund's transfer agent will redeem the necessary portion of the escrowed shares to make up the difference between the reduced rate sales charge (based on the amount you intended to purchase) and the sales charge that would normally apply (based on the actual amount you purchased).
Repurchase of Shares: If you have redeemed shares of the Fund within the past 120 days, you may repurchase an equivalent amount of shares of the Fund at NAV, without the normal front-end sales charge. In effect, this allows you to reacquire shares that you may have had to redeem, without repaying the front-end sales charge. You may exercise this privilege only once and must notify the Fund that you intend to do so in writing. The Fund must receive your purchase order within 120 days of your redemption. Note that if you reacquire shares through separate installments (e.g., through monthly or quarterly repurchases), the sales charge waiver will only apply to those portions of your repurchase order received within 120 days of your redemption.
Sales Charge Waivers
The sales charge on purchases of shares is waived for certain types of investors, consisting of: • Clients of the Adviser that pay an advisory fee. • Current and retired directors and officers of the Fund sponsored by the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries, their immediate families (i.e., spouse, children, mother or father) and any purchases referred through the Adviser. • Employees of the Adviser and their immediate families, or any full-time employee or registered representative of the distributor and their immediate families. • Institutional investors (which may include bank trust departments and registered investment advisors). • Separate accounts used to fund certain unregistered variable annuity contracts or Section 403(b) or 401(a) or (k) accounts. • Employer-sponsored retirement or benefit plans with total plan assets in excess of $5 million where the plan's investments in the Fund are part of an omnibus account. A minimum initial investment of $1 million in the Fund is required. The distributor in its sole discretion may waive these minimum dollar requirements.
The Fund does not waive sales charges for the reinvestment of proceeds from the sale of shares of a different fund where those shares were subject to a front-end sales charge (sometimes called an "NAV transfer"). Please consult your financial adviser for further information.
11 If you have any questions regarding the Fund, please call 1-877-328-5468.
HOW TO REDEEM SHARES
REDEEMING SHARES: The Fund typically expects that it will take up to 7 days following the receipt of your redemption request to pay out redemption proceeds by check or electronic transfer. The Fund typically expects to pay redemptions from cash, cash equivalents, proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, any lines of credit, and then from the sale of portfolio securities. These redemptions payment methods will be used in regular and stressed market conditions. You may redeem your shares on any business day. Redemption orders received in proper form by the Fund's transfer agent or by a brokerage firm or other intermediary selling Fund shares by 4:00 p.m. ET (or before the NYSE closes if the NYSE closes before 4:00 p.m. ET) will be processed at that day's NAV. Your brokerage firm or intermediary may have an earlier cut-off time.
"Proper form" means your request for redemption must:
• Include the Fund name and account number; • Include the account name(s) and address; • State the dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem; and • Be signed by all registered share owner(s) in the exact name(s) and any special capacity in which they are registered.
The Fund may require that the signatures be guaranteed if the mailing address of the account has been changed within 30 days of the redemption request. The Fund also may require that signatures be guaranteed for redemptions of $25,000 or more. Signature guarantees are for the protection of shareholders. You can obtain a signature guarantee from most banks and securities dealers, but not from a notary public. All documentation requiring a signature guarantee must utilize a New Technology Medallion stamp. For joint accounts, both signatures must be guaranteed. Please call the transfer agent at 1-877-328-5468 if you have questions regarding signature guarantees. At the discretion of the Fund, you may be required to furnish additional legal documents to insure proper authorization. The Fund will not make checks payable to any person other than the shareholder(s) of record. Payment will be made within seven days, except as described in Additional Redemption Information below.
How to Initiate a Redemption Request
Online. You may request a redemption of shares through the Fund’s website if you are registered for online access.
By telephone. You may call the Fund at 1-877-328-5468 to request a redemption of shares. You may redeem any part of your account in the Fund by calling the transfer agent at 1-877-328-5468. You must first complete the Optional Telephone Redemption and Exchange section of the investment application to institute this option. The Fund, the transfer agent and the custodian are not liable for following redemption instructions communicated by telephone to the extent that they reasonably believe the telephone instructions to be genuine. However, if they do not employ reasonable procedures to confirm that telephone instructions are genuine, they may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. Procedures employed may include recording telephone instructions and requiring a form of personal identification from the caller.
The Fund may terminate the telephone redemption procedures at any time. During periods of extreme market activity it is possible that shareholders may encounter some difficulty in telephoning the Fund, although neither the Fund nor the transfer agent has ever experienced difficulties in receiving and responding to telephone requests for redemptions or exchanges in a timely fashion. If you are unable to reach the Fund by telephone, you may request a redemption or exchange by mail.
By mail. You may send a written request to the Fund. You may redeem any part of your account in the Fund by mail at no charge. Your request, in proper form, should be addressed to:
Footprints Discover Value Fund c/o Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400 Broadview Heights, OH 44147-4031
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. You may authorize the automatic withdrawal from your account with a minimum $50 withdrawal per month. If you have an existing account that does not include the automatic withdrawal plan, you can contact the Fund’s transfer agent to establish an automatic withdrawal plan. The automatic withdrawal plan provides a
12 convenient method to have monies deducted directly from your Fund account. The Fund may alter, modify or terminate this plan at any time. To begin participating in this plan, please complete the Automatic Withdrawal Plan Section found on the application or contact the Fund at 1-877-328-5468.
How to Receive Redemption Proceeds
By electronic bank transfer. You may have the proceeds of a redemption sent directly to a designated bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer service on an account, you must designate a bank account in the appropriate section of your Shareholder Account Application form. After the service is set up on your account, you can redeem shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Withdrawal Plan) or upon request. Your redemption request can be initiated online (if you are registered for online access), by telephone, or by mail.
By wire. To receive your proceeds by wire, you may instruct the Fund to wire your redemption proceeds to a previously designated bank account. To establish the wire redemption service, you generally must designate a bank account in your Shareholder Account Application. A wire transfer fee of $20 will be charged to defray custodial charges for redemptions paid by wire transfer. Any charges for wire redemptions will be deducted from your account by redemption of shares.
By check. If you have not chosen another redemption method, the Fund will mail you a redemption check, generally payable to all registered account owners, normally on or before the fifth business day following the redemption, and generally to the address of record.
ADDITIONAL REDEMPTION INFORMATION:
If you are not certain of the redemption requirements, please call the transfer agent at 1-877-328-5468. Redemptions specifying a certain date or share price cannot be accepted and will be returned. You may be assessed a fee if the Fund incurs bank charges because you request that the Fund re-issue a redemption check. The Fund may not suspend the right of redemption or postpone payment or satisfaction of a proper redemption request for more than seven days, except (1) for any period during which the NYSE is closed (or when trading is restricted) for any reason other than its customary weekend or holiday closing; or (2) for any period during which any emergency circumstances as a result of which (A) disposal by the company of securities owned by it is not reasonably practicable or (B) it is not reasonably practicable for such company fairly to determine the value of its net assets; or (3) for such other periods, as determined by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The Fund expects that it will take up to seven calendar days following the receipt of your redemption request to pay out redemption proceeds by check or electronic transfer, except as noted above. The Fund expects to pay redemptions from cash, cash equivalents, proceeds from the sale of additional fund shares, and then from the sale of portfolio securities. These redemption payment methods will be used in regular and stressed market conditions.
REDEMPTIONS IN KIND:
The Fund reserves the right to honor requests for redemption or repurchase orders made by a shareholder during any 90- day period by making payment in whole or in part in portfolio securities ("redemption in kind") on the amount of such a request that is large enough to affect operations (that is, on the amount of the request that is greater than the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund's net assets at the beginning of the 90-day period). The securities will be chosen by the Fund and valued using the same procedures as used in calculating the Fund's NAV. The Fund may use illiquid securities for redemptions in kind. A shareholder will be exposed to market risks until these securities are converted to cash and may incur transaction expenses or taxable capital gains in converting these securities to cash.
Low Balances: Because the Fund incurs certain fixed costs in maintaining shareholder accounts, the Fund may require that you redeem all of your shares in the Fund upon 30 days written notice if the value of your shares in the Fund is less than $5,000 due to redemption, or such other minimum amount as the Fund may determine from time to time. You may increase the value of your shares in the Fund to the minimum amount within the 30-day period. All shares of the Fund are also subject to involuntary redemption if the Board of Trustees determines to liquidate the Fund. An involuntary redemption will create a capital gain or a capital loss, which may have tax consequences to you and about which you should consult your tax adviser.
FREQUENT PURCHASES AND REDEMPTIONS OF FUND SHARES
The Fund discourages and does not accommodate market timing (the "Market Timing Trading Policy"). Frequent trading into and out of the Fund can harm all Fund shareholders by disrupting the Fund's investment strategies, increasing Fund expenses, decreasing tax efficiency and diluting the value of shares held by long-term shareholders. The Fund is
13 designed for long-term investors and is not intended for market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Accordingly, the Fund's Board has approved policies that seek to curb these disruptive activities while recognizing that shareholders may have a legitimate need to adjust their Fund investments as their financial needs or circumstances change. The Fund discourages excessive short-term trading in Fund shares and does not accommodate such trading activity by investors. The Fund considers excessive short-term trading to be any pattern of frequent purchases and redemptions of the Fund's shares by an investor or group of investors, acting in concert, which could interfere with the efficient management of the Fund's portfolio or result in increased brokerage and administrative costs. The Fund currently uses several methods to reduce the risk of market timing. These methods include:
• Committing staff to review, on a continuing basis, recent trading activity in order to identify trading activity that may be contrary to the Fund's "Market Timing Trading Policy"; • Rejecting or limiting specific purchase requests; • Rejecting purchase requests from certain investors; and • Charging a 2% redemption fee on shares sold within 90 days.
Though these methods involve judgments that are inherently subjective and involve some selectivity in their application, the Fund seeks to make judgments and applications that are consistent with the interests of the Fund's shareholders. Based on the frequency of redemptions in your account, the Adviser or transfer agent may in its sole discretion determine that your trading activity is detrimental to the Fund and elect to reject or limit the amount, number, frequency or method for requesting future purchases of the Fund's shares.
The Fund reserves the right to reject or restrict purchase requests for any reason, particularly when the shareholder's trading activity suggests that the shareholder may be engaged in market timing or other disruptive trading activities. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser will be liable for any losses resulting from rejected purchase orders. The Adviser may also bar an investor who has violated these policies (and the investor's financial advisor) from opening new accounts with the Fund.
Although the Fund attempts to limit disruptive trading activities, some investors use a variety of strategies to hide their identities and their trading practices. There can be no guarantee that the Fund will be able to identify or limit these activities. Omnibus account arrangements are common forms of holding shares of the Fund. While the Fund will encourage financial intermediaries to apply the Fund's Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers who invest indirectly in the Fund, the Fund is limited in its ability to monitor the trading activity or enforce the Fund's Market Timing Trading Policy with respect to customers of financial intermediaries. For example, should it occur, the Fund may not be able to detect market timing that may be facilitated by financial intermediaries or made difficult to identify in the omnibus accounts used by those intermediaries for aggregated purchases, exchanges and redemptions on behalf of all their customers. More specifically, unless the financial intermediaries have the ability to apply the Fund's Market Timing Trading Policy to their customers through such methods as implementing short-term trading limitations or restrictions and monitoring trading activity for what might be market timing, the Fund may not be able to determine whether trading by customers of financial intermediaries is contrary to the Fund's Market Timing Trading Policy. Brokers maintaining omnibus accounts with the Fund have agreed to provide shareholder transaction information to the extent known to the broker to the Fund upon request. If the Fund or their transfer agent or shareholder servicing agent suspects there is market timing activity in the account, the Fund will seek full cooperation from the service provider maintaining the account to identify the underlying participant. At the request of the adviser, the service providers may take immediate action to stop any further short-term trading by such participants.
The Fund and the Adviser reserve the right to modify or eliminate the redemption fee at any time. If there is a material change to the Fund's redemption fee, the Fund will notify you at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the change. The Fund and the Adviser also reserve the right to waive the redemption fee for any shareholder if the circumstances warrant.
TAX STATUS, DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Any sale or exchange of the Fund's shares may generate tax liability (unless you are a tax-exempt investor or your investment is in a qualified retirement account). When you redeem your shares, you may realize a taxable gain or loss. This is measured by the difference between the proceeds of the sale and the tax basis for the shares you sold. (To aid in computing your tax basis, you generally should retain your account statements for the period that you hold shares in the Fund.)
The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains annually in December. Both distributions will be reinvested in shares of the Fund unless you elect to receive cash. Dividends from net investment income (including any excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss) are taxable to
14 investors as ordinary income, while distributions of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss) are generally taxable as long-term capital gain, regardless of your holding period for the shares. Any dividends or capital gain distributions you receive from the Fund will normally be taxable to you when made, regardless of whether you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions or receive them in cash. Certain dividends or distributions declared in October, November or December will be taxed to shareholders as if received in December if they are paid during the following January. Each year the Fund will inform you of the amount and type of your distributions. IRAs and other qualified retirement plans are exempt from federal income taxation until retirement proceeds are paid out to the participant.
Your redemptions, including exchanges, may result in a capital gain or loss for federal tax purposes. A capital gain or loss on your investment is the difference between the cost of your shares, including any sales charges, and the amount you receive when you sell them.
On the account application, you will be asked to certify that your social security number or taxpayer identification number is correct and that you are not subject to backup withholding for failing to report income to the IRS. If you are subject to backup withholding or you did not certify your taxpayer identification number, the IRS requires the Fund to withhold a percentage of any dividend, redemption or exchange proceeds. The Fund reserves the right to reject any application that does not include a certified social security or taxpayer identification number. If you do not have a social security number, you should indicate on the purchase form that your application to obtain a number is pending. The Fund is required to withhold taxes if a number is not delivered to the Fund within seven days.
This summary is not intended to be and should not be construed to be legal or tax advice. You should consult your own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences of owning the Fund's shares.
DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES
Distributor: Arbor Court Capital, LLC ("Arbor Court"), 8000 Towne Center Drive, Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147 is the distributor for the shares of the Fund. Arbor Court is a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"). Shares of the Fund are offered on a continuous basis.
Distribution Fees: The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has adopted a Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan for Fund shares (the "Plan") under Rule 12b-1, pursuant to which the Fund may pay the Fund's distributor an annual fee for distribution and shareholder servicing expenses of 0.25% the Fund's average daily net assets.
The Fund's distributor and other entities are paid under the Plan for services provided and the expenses borne by the distributor and others in the distribution of Fund shares, including the payment of commissions for sales of the shares and incentive compensation to and expenses of dealers and others who engage in or support distribution of shares or who service shareholder accounts, including overhead and telephone expenses; printing and distribution of prospectuses and reports used in connection with the offering of the Fund's shares to other than current shareholders; and preparation, printing and distribution of sales literature and advertising materials. In addition, the distributor or other entities may utilize fees paid pursuant to the Plan to compensate dealers or other entities for their opportunity costs in advancing such amounts, which compensation would be in the form of a carrying charge on any un-reimbursed expenses.
You should be aware that if you hold your shares for a substantial period of time, you may indirectly pay more than the economic equivalent of the maximum front-end sales charge allowed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority due to the recurring nature of distribution (12b-1) fees.
Additional Compensation to Financial Intermediaries: The Fund's distributor, its affiliates, and the Adviser and its affiliates may, at their own expense and out of their own assets including their legitimate profits from Fund-related activities, provide additional cash payments to financial intermediaries who sell shares of the Fund. Financial intermediaries include brokers, financial planners, banks, insurance companies, retirement or 401(k) plan administrators and others. These payments may be in addition to the Rule 12b-1 fees and any sales charges that are disclosed elsewhere in this Prospectus. These payments are generally made to financial intermediaries that provide shareholder or administrative services, or marketing support. Marketing support may include access to sales meetings, sales representatives and financial intermediary management representatives, inclusion of the Fund on a sales list, including a preferred or select sales list, or other sales programs. These payments also may be made as an expense reimbursement in cases where the financial intermediary provides shareholder services to Fund shareholders. The distributor may, from time to time, provide promotional incentives to certain investment firms. Such incentives may, at the distributor's discretion, be limited to investment firms who allow their individual selling representatives to participate in such additional compensation.
15 Householding: To reduce expenses, we mail only one copy of the prospectus and each annual and semi-annual report to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual copies of these documents, please call the Fund at 1-877-328-5468 on days the Fund is open for business or contact your financial institution. We will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Financial Highlights table is intended to help you understand the Fund's financial performance during the period of its operations. Certain financial information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). This information has been audited by Sanville & Company, whose report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, are included in the Fund’s annual report, which is available upon request.
FOOTPRINTS DISCOVER VALUE FUND Select data for a share outstanding throughout the year. Year Ended Period Ended (c) 11/30/2019 11/30/2018
Net Asset Value, at Beginning of Year $8.40 $10.00
Income (Loss) From Investment Operations: Net Investment Income * 0.03 (0.02) Net Gain (Loss) on Securities (Realized and Unrealized) (1.78) (1.58) Total from Investment Operations (1.75) (1.60)
Redemption Fees *** - -
Distributions: Realized Gains (0.92) Total from Distributions (0.92)
Net Asset Value, at End of Period $5.73 $8.40
Total Return ** (22.48)% (16.00)% (b)
Ratios/Supplemental Data: Net Assets at End of Period (Thousands) $2,804 $3,867 Before Waiver Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets 3.51% 3.14% (a) Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets (1.05)% (1.40)% (a) After Waivers Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets 1.95% 1.95% (a) Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets 0.51% (0.21)% (a) Portfolio Turnover 105.39% 154.25% (b) * Per share net investment income has been determined on the basis of average shares outstanding during the period. ** Assumes reinvestment of dividends. *** The Fund will impose a 1.00% redemption fee on shares redeemed within 90 days of purchase. (a) Annualized. (b) Not Annualized. (c) For the period December 26, 2017 (commencement of investment operations) through November 30, 2018.
16 Rev. September 2011 PRIVACY NOTICE MSS SERIES TRUST
FACTS WHAT DOES MSS SERIES TRUST DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to Why? limit some, but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do.
The types of personal information we collect and share depends on the product or service that you have with us. What? This information can include: • Social Security number and wire transfer instructions
• account transactions and transaction history
• investment experience and purchase history
When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.
All financial companies need to share customers' personal information to run their everyday business. In the How? section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers' personal information; the reasons MSS Series Trust chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.
Does MSS Series Can you limit Reasons we can share your personal information: Trust share this sharing? information? For our everyday business purposes - such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or YES NO report to credit bureaus. For our marketing purposes - to offer our products and services to you. NO We don't share For joint marketing with other financial companies. NO We don't share For our affiliates' everyday business purposes - information about your NO We don't share transactions and records. For our affiliates' everyday business purposes - information about your NO We don't share credit worthiness. For our affiliates to market to you NO We don't share For non-affiliates to market to you NO We don't share QUESTIONS? Call 1-877-328-5468
17 PRIVACY NOTICE (continued) What we do: To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that How does the MSS Series comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and Trust protect my personal buildings. information? Our service providers are held accountable for adhering to strict policies and procedures to prevent any misuse of your nonpublic personal information. We collect your personal information, for example, when you How does the MSS Series • open an account or deposit money Trust collect my personal • direct us to buy securities or direct us to sell your securities information? • seek advice about your investments We also collect your personal information from others, such as credit bureaus, affiliates, or other companies.
Why can't I limit all sharing? Federal law gives you the right to limit only: • sharing for affiliates' everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness. • affiliates from using your information to market to you. • sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you. State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing.
Definitions Affiliates Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and non-financial companies. • MSS Series Trust does not share with affiliates so they can market to you.
Non-affiliates Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and non-financial companies. • MSS Series Trust does not share with non-affiliates so they can market to you.
Joint marketing A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you. • MSS Series Trust doesn't jointly market.
18 Footprints Discover Value Fund
Footprints Asset Management & Arbor Court Capital, LLC Research, Inc. Adviser Distributor 8000 Town Centre Drive 11422 Miracle Hills Drive, Suite 208 Broadview Heights, OH 44122 Omaha, NE 68154 Independent Sanville & Company Thompson Hine LLP Registered Public Legal 1514 Old York Road 41 South High Street, Suite 1700 Accounting Counsel Abington, PA 19001 Columbus, OH 43215 Firm US Bank, N.A., Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC Transfer Custodian 1555 N. River Center Drive, 8000 Town Centre Drive Agent Milwaukee, WI 53212 Broadview Heights, OH 44122
Additional information about the Fund is included in the Fund's Statement of Additional Information dated March 27, 2020 (the "SAI"). The SAI is incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (i.e., legally made a part of this Prospectus). The SAI provides more details about the Fund's policies and management. Additional information about the Fund's investments is also available in the Fund's Annual and Semi- Annual Reports to Shareholders. In the Fund's Annual Report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the Fund's performance during its last fiscal year.
To obtain a free copy of the SAI and the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports to Shareholders, or other information about the Fund, or to make shareholder inquiries about the Fund, please call 1-877-328-5468 or visit www.footprintsfund.com. You may also write to:
Footprints Discover Value Fund c/o Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC 8000 Town Centre Drive Broadview Heights, OH 44122
Reports and other information about the Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following E-mail address: [email protected].
Investment Company Act File # 811-21927
MSS Series Trust
FOOTPRINTS DISCOVER VALUE FUND TICKER: DVALX
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
March 27, 2020
This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. It should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus for the Footprints Discover Value Fund dated March 27, 2020. A copy of the Prospectus can be obtained at no charge by writing the transfer agent, Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC, at 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147-4003, or by calling 1-877-328-5468. The Fund’s Prospectus is incorporated by reference into this SAI. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
Description of the Trust and Funds ...... 1
Additional Information About the Fund’s Investments ...... 2
Investment Strategies and Risks ...... 2
Investment Restrictions ...... 37
Management of the Fund ...... 39
Board Leadership Structure ...... 40
Board Risk Oversight ...... 40
Trustee Qualifications ...... 40
Code of Ethics ...... 43
Distribution Plan ...... 44
Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities ...... 46
Control Persons ...... 46
Management Ownership ...... 46
Investment Advisory Services ...... 46
Investment Adviser ...... 46
Custodian ...... 49
Fund Services ...... 49
Administrator ...... 49
Compliance Services ...... 49
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ...... 50
Brokerage Allocation and Other Practices ...... 50
Portfolio Turnover ...... 51
Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings ...... 51
Determination of Share Price ...... 53
Tax Consequences ...... 53
Proxy Voting Policies And Procedures...... 55
Financial Statements ...... 55
DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND FUNDS
The Footprints Discover Value Fund (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified series of MSS Series Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust is an open-end investment company established under the laws of Ohio by an Agreement and Declaration of Trust dated June 20, 2006 (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement permits the Board of Trustees to authorize and issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest of separate series without par value. The Fund is one of a number of series currently authorized by the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Trustees”). The investment adviser to the Fund is Footprints Asset Management & Research, Inc. (the “Adviser”).
The Fund does not issue share certificates. All shares are held in non-certificated form registered on the books of the Fund and the transfer agent for the account of the shareholder. Each share of a series represents an equal proportionate interest in the assets and liabilities belonging to that series with each other share of that series and is entitled to such dividends and distributions out of income belonging to the series as are declared by the Trustees. The shares do not have cumulative voting rights or any preemptive or conversion rights, and the Trustees have the authority from time to time to divide or combine the shares of any series into a greater or lesser number of shares of that series so long as the proportionate beneficial interest in the assets belonging to that series and the rights of shares of any other series are in no way affected. In case of any liquidation of a series, the holders of shares of the series being liquidated will be entitled to receive as a class a distribution out of the assets, net of the liabilities, belonging to that series. Expenses attributable to any series are borne by that series. Any general expenses of the Trust not readily identifiable as belonging to a particular series are allocated by or under the direction of the Trustees in such manner as the Trustees determine to be fair and equitable. No shareholder is liable to further calls or to assessment by the Trust without his or her express consent.
Any Trustee of the Trust may be removed by vote of the shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Trust. The Trust does not hold an annual meeting of shareholders. When matters are submitted to shareholders for a vote, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each whole share owned by the shareholder and fractional votes for fractional shares owned by the shareholder. All shares of the Fund have equal voting rights and liquidation rights. The Agreement and Declaration of Trust can be amended by the Trustees, except that any amendment that adversely affects the rights of shareholders must be approved by the shareholders affected. All shares of the Fund are subject to involuntary redemption if the Trustees determine to liquidate the Fund. An involuntary redemption will create a capital gain or a capital loss, which may have tax consequences about which you should consult your tax adviser.
For information concerning the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund, see “How to Buy Shares” and “How to Redeem Shares” in the Prospectus. For a description of the methods used to determine the share price and value of the Fund’s assets, see “How Shares are Priced” in the Prospectus and “Determination of Share Price” in this Statement of Additional Information.
1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND’S INVESTMENTS
Investment Strategies and Risks
All principal investment strategies and risks are discussed in the Prospectus. This section contains a more detailed discussion of some of the investments the Fund may make and some of the techniques they may use, as described in the Risk/Return Summary in the Prospectus. Additional non-principal strategies and risks also are discussed here.
Equity Securities
Equity securities in which the Fund invests include common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into common stocks, such as convertible bonds, warrants, rights and options. The value of equity securities varies in response to many factors, including the activities and financial condition of individual companies, the business market in which individual companies compete and general market and economic conditions. Equity securities fluctuate in value, often based on factors unrelated to the value of the issuer of the securities, and such fluctuations can be significant.
Common Stock
Common stock represents an equity (ownership) interest in a company, and usually possesses voting rights and earns dividends. Dividends on common stock are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the issuer. Common stock generally represents the riskiest investment in a company. In addition, common stock generally has the greatest appreciation and depreciation potential because increases and decreases in earnings are usually reflected in a company’s stock price.
Preferred Stock
The Fund may invest in preferred stock with no minimum credit rating. Preferred stock is a class of stock having a preference over common stock as to the payment of dividends and the recovery of investment should a company be liquidated, although preferred stock is usually junior to the debt securities of the issuer. Preferred stock typically does not possess voting rights and its market value may change based on changes in interest rates.
The fundamental risk of investing in common and preferred stock is the risk that the value of the stock might decrease. Stock values fluctuate in response to the activities of an individual company or in response to general market and/or economic conditions. Historically, common stocks have provided greater long-term returns and have entailed greater short-term risks than preferred stocks, fixed-income securities and money market investments. The market value of all securities, including common and preferred stocks, is based upon the market’s perception of value and not necessarily the book value of an issuer or other objective measures of a company’s worth.
2 Convertible Securities
The Fund may invest in convertible securities with no minimum credit rating. Convertible securities include fixed income securities that may be exchanged or converted into a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s underlying common stock at the option of the holder during a specified period. Convertible securities may take the form of convertible preferred stock, convertible bonds or debentures, units consisting of “usable” bonds and warrants or a combination of the features of several of these securities. Convertible securities are senior to common stocks in an issuer’s capital structure, but are usually subordinated to similar non- convertible securities. While providing a fixed-income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar nonconvertible security), a convertible security also gives an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation of the issuing company depending upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock. Contingent convertible securities (commonly referred to as "CoCos") have no stated maturity, have fully discretionary coupons and are typically issued in the form of subordinated debt instruments. CoCos generally either convert into equity or have their principal written down upon the occurrence of certain triggering events ("triggers") linked to regulatory capital thresholds or regulatory actions relating to the issuer's continued viability. As a result, an investment by the Fund in CoCos is subject to the risk that coupon (i.e., interest) payments may be cancelled by the issuer or a regulatory authority in order to help the issuer absorb losses. CoCos are also subject to the risk that, in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of an issuer prior to a trigger event, the Fund's rights and claims will generally rank junior to the claims of holders of the issuer's other debt obligations. In addition, if CoCos held by the Fund are converted into the issuer's underlying equity securities following a trigger event, the Fund's holding may be further subordinated due to the conversion from a debt to equity instrument. Further, the value of an investment in CoCos is unpredictable and will be influenced by many factors and risks, including interest rate risk, credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk.
Warrants
The Fund may invest in warrants. Warrants are options to purchase common stock at a specific price (usually at a premium above the market value of the optioned common stock at issuance) valid for a specific period of time. Warrants may have a life ranging from less than one year to twenty years, or they may be perpetual. However, most warrants have expiration dates after which they are worthless. In addition, a warrant is worthless if the market price of the common stock does not exceed the warrant’s exercise price during the life of the warrant. Warrants have no voting rights, pay no dividends, and have no rights with respect to the assets of the corporation issuing them. The percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the warrant may tend to be greater than the percentage increase or decrease in the market price of the optioned common stock.
Depositary Receipts
The Fund may invest in sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), which are receipts issued by an American bank or trust company evidencing ownership of underlying securities issued by a foreign issuer. ADRs, in registered form, are
3 designed for use in U.S. securities markets. Unsponsored ADRs may be created without the participation of the foreign issuer. Holders of these ADRs generally bear all the costs of the ADR facility, whereas foreign issuers typically bear certain costs in a sponsored ADR. The bank or trust company depositary of an unsponsored ADR may be under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the foreign issuer or to pass through voting rights. Many of the risks described below regarding foreign securities apply to investments in ADRs.
Asset-Backed Securities and Collateralized Debt Obligations
The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”). Asset-backed securities and CDOs are created by the grouping of certain governmental, government related and private loans, receivables and other non-mortgage lender assets/collateral into pools. A sponsoring organization establishes a special purpose vehicle to hold the assets/collateral and issue securities. Interests in these pools are sold as individual securities. Payments of principal and interest are passed through to investors and are typically supported by some form of credit enhancement, such as a letter of credit, surety bond, limited guaranty or senior/subordination. Payments from the asset pools may be divided into several different tranches of debt securities, offering investors various maturity and credit risk characteristics. Some tranches are entitled to receive regular installments of principal and interest, other tranches are entitled to receive regular installments of interest, with principal payable at maturity or upon specified call dates, and other tranches are only entitled to receive payments of principal and accrued interest at maturity or upon specified call dates. Different tranches of securities will bear different interest rates, which may be fixed or floating.
Investors in asset-backed securities and CDOs bear the credit risk of the assets/collateral. Tranches are categorized as senior, mezzanine, and subordinated/equity, according to their degree of credit risk. If there are defaults or the CDO’s collateral otherwise underperforms, scheduled payments to senior tranches take precedence over those of mezzanine tranches, and scheduled payments to mezzanine tranches take precedence over those to subordinated/equity tranches. Senior and mezzanine tranches are typically rated by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), with the former receiving ratings of A to AAA and the latter receiving ratings of B to BBB. The ratings reflect both the credit quality of underlying collateral as well as how much protection a given tranche is afforded by tranches that are subordinate to it.
Because the loans held in the pool often may be prepaid without penalty or premium, asset-backed securities and CDOs can be subject to higher prepayment risks than most other types of debt instruments. Prepayments may result in a capital loss to the Fund to the extent that the prepaid securities purchased at a market discount from their stated principal amount will accelerate the recognition of interest income by the Fund, which would be taxed as ordinary income when distributed to the shareholders.
The credit characteristics of asset-backed securities and CDOs also differ in a number of respects from those of traditional debt securities. The credit quality of most asset-backed securities and CDOs depends primarily upon the credit quality of the assets/collateral underlying such securities, how well the entity issuing the securities is insulated from the credit risk of the originator or any other affiliated entities, and the amount and quality of any credit enhancement to such securities.
4 Income Trusts
The Fund may invest in income trusts which are investment trusts that hold assets that are income producing. The income is passed on to the “unitholders.” Each income trust has an operating risk based on its underlying business. The term may also be used to designate a legal entity, capital structure and ownership vehicle for certain assets or businesses. Shares or “trust units” are traded on securities exchanges just like stocks. Income is passed on to the investors, called unitholders, through monthly or quarterly distributions. Historically, distributions have typically been higher than dividends on common stocks. The unitholders are the beneficiaries of a trust, and their units represent their right to participate in the income and capital of the trust. Income trusts generally invest funds in assets that provide a return to the trust and its beneficiaries based on the cash flows of an underlying business. This return is often achieved through the acquisition by the trust of equity and debt instruments, royalty interests or real properties. The trust can receive interest, royalty or lease payments from an operating entity carrying on a business, as well as dividends and a return of capital.
Each income trust has an operating risk based on its underlying business; and, typically, the higher the yield, the higher the risk. They also have additional risk factors, including, but not limited to, poorer access to debt markets. Similar to a dividend paying stock, income trusts do not guarantee minimum distributions or even return of capital. If the business starts to lose money, the trust can reduce or even eliminate distributions; this is usually accompanied by sharp losses in a unit’s market value. Since the yield is one of the main attractions of income trusts, there is the risk that trust units will decline in value if interest rates offering in competing markets, such as in the cash/treasury market, increase. Interest rate risk is also present within the trusts themselves because they hold very long term capital assets (e.g. pipelines, power plants, etc.), and much of the excess distributable income is derived from a maturity (or duration) mismatch between the life of the asset, and the life of the financing associated with it. In an increasing interest rate environment, not only does the attractiveness of trust distributions decrease, but quite possibly, the distributions may themselves decrease, leading to a double whammy of both declining yield and substantial loss of unitholder value. Because most income is passed on to unitholders, rather than reinvested in the business, in some cases, a trust can become a wasting asset unless more equity is issued. Because many income trusts pay out more than their net income, the unitholder equity (capital) may decline over time. To the extent that the value of the trust is driven by the deferral or reduction of tax, any change in government tax regulations to remove the benefit will reduce the value of the trusts. Generally, income trusts also carry the same risks as dividend paying stocks that are traded on stock markets.
Publicly Traded Partnerships
The Fund may invest in publicly traded partnerships (“PTPs”). PTPs are limited partnerships the interests in which (known as “units”) are traded on public exchanges, just like corporate stock. PTPs are limited partnerships that provide an investor with a direct interest in a group of assets (generally, oil and gas properties). Publicly traded partnership units typically trade publicly, like stock, and thus may provide the investor more liquidity than ordinary limited partnerships. Publicly traded partnerships are also called master limited partnerships and public limited partnerships. A limited partnership has one or more general partners (they may be individuals, corporations, partnerships or another entity) which manage the partnership, and
5 limited partners, which provide capital to the partnership but have no role in its management. When an investor buys units in a PTP, he or she becomes a limited partner. PTPs are formed in several ways. A non-traded partnership may decide to go public. Several non-traded partnerships may “roll up” into a single PTP. A corporation may spin off a group of assets or part of its business into a PTP of which it is the general partner, either to realize what it believes to be the assets’ full value or as an alternative to issuing debt. A corporation may fully convert to a PTP, although since 1986 the tax consequences have made this an unappealing option; or, a newly formed company may operate as a PTP from its inception.
There are different types of risks to investing in PTPs including regulatory risks and interest rate risks. Currently most partnerships enjoy pass through taxation of their income to partners, which avoids double taxation of earnings. If the government were to change PTP business tax structure, unitholders would not be able to enjoy the relatively high yields in the sector for long. In addition, PTPs which charge government-regulated fees for transportation of oil and gas products through their pipelines are subject to unfavorable changes in government- approved rates and fees, which would affect a PTPs revenue stream negatively. PTPs also carry some interest rate risks. During increases in interest rates, PTPs may not produce decent returns to shareholders.
Real Estate Investment Trusts
The Fund may invest in securities of real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). REITs are publicly traded corporations or trusts that specialize in acquiring, holding and managing residential, commercial or industrial real estate. A REIT is not taxed at the entity level on income distributed to its shareholders or unitholders if it distributes to shareholders or unitholders at least 95% of its taxable income for each taxable year and complies with regulatory requirements relating to its organization, ownership, assets and income.
REITs generally can be classified as “Equity REITs”, “Mortgage REITs” and “Hybrid REITs.” An Equity REIT invests the majority of its assets directly in real property and derives its income primarily from rents and from capital gains on real estate appreciation, which are realized through property sales. A Mortgage REIT invests the majority of its assets in real estate mortgage loans and services its income primarily from interest payments. A Hybrid REIT combines the characteristics of an Equity REIT and a Mortgage REIT. Although the Fund can invest in all three kinds of REITs, its emphasis is expected to be on investments in Equity REITs.
Investments in the real estate industry involve particular risks. The real estate industry has been subject to substantial fluctuations and declines on a local, regional and national basis in the past and may continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property continue to be in the future. Real property values and income from real property may decline due to general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, changes in neighborhoods and in demographics, increases in market interest rates, or other factors. Factors such as these may adversely affect companies that own and operate real estate directly, companies that lend to such companies, and companies that service the real estate industry.
6 Investments in REITs also involve risks. Equity REITs will be affected by changes in the values of and income from the properties they own, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the credit quality of the mortgage loans they hold. In addition, REITs are dependent on specialized management skills and on their ability to generate cash flow for operating purposes and to make distributions to shareholders or unitholders REITs may have limited diversification and are subject to risks associated with obtaining financing for real property, as well as to the risk of self-liquidation. REITs also can be adversely affected by their failure to qualify for tax- free pass-through treatment of their income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or their failure to maintain an exemption from registration under the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through a Fund, a shareholder bears not only a proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also may indirectly bear similar expenses of some of the REITs in which it invests.
Fixed Income/Debt/Bond Securities
Yields on fixed income securities are dependent on a variety of factors, including the general conditions of the money market and other fixed income securities markets, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. An investment in the Fund will be subjected to risk even if all fixed income securities in the Fund’s portfolio are paid in full at maturity. All fixed income securities, including U.S. Government securities, can change in value when there is a change in interest rates or the issuer’s actual or perceived creditworthiness or ability to meet its obligations.
There is normally an inverse relationship between the market value of securities sensitive to prevailing interest rates and actual changes in interest rates. In other words, an increase in interest rates produces a decrease in market value. The longer the remaining maturity (and duration) of a security, the greater will be the effect of interest rate changes on the market value of that security. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the markets’ perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the debt securities of that issuer. Obligations of issuers of fixed income securities (including municipal securities) are subject to the provisions of bankruptcy, insolvency, and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, such as the Federal Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978. In addition, the obligations of municipal issuers may become subject to laws enacted in the future by Congress, state legislatures, or referenda extending the time for payment of principal and/or interest, or imposing other constraints upon enforcement of such obligations or upon the ability of municipalities to levy taxes. Changes in the ability of an issuer to make payments of interest and principal and in the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness will also affect the market value of the debt securities of that issuer. The possibility exists, therefore, that, the ability of any issuer to pay, when due, the principal of and interest on its debt securities may become impaired.
The corporate debt securities in which the Fund may invest include corporate bonds and notes and short-term investments such as commercial paper and variable rate demand notes. Commercial paper (short-term promissory notes) is issued by companies to finance their or their affiliate’s current obligations and is frequently unsecured. Variable and floating rate demand notes are unsecured obligations typically redeemable upon not more than 30 days’ notice. These obligations include master demand notes that permit investment of fluctuating amounts at
7 varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement with the issuer of the instrument. The issuer of these obligations often has the right, after a given period, to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the obligations upon a specified number of days’ notice. These obligations generally are not traded, nor generally is there an established secondary market for these obligations. To the extent a demand note does not have a 7-day or shorter demand feature and there is no readily available market for the obligation, it is treated as an illiquid security.
The Fund may invest in debt securities, including non-investment grade debt securities. The following describes some of the risks associated with fixed income debt securities:
Interest Rate Risk. Debt securities have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in interest rates. In general, the price of a debt security can fall when interest rates rise and can rise when interest rates fall. Securities with longer maturities and mortgage securities can be more sensitive to interest rate changes although they usually offer higher yields to compensate investors for the greater risks. The longer the maturity of the security, the greater the impact a change in interest rates could have on the security’s price. In addition, short-term and long-term interest rates do not necessarily move in the same amount or the same direction. Short-term securities tend to react to changes in short-term interest rates and long-term securities tend to react to changes in long-term interest rates.
Credit Risk. Fixed income securities have speculative characteristics and changes in economic conditions or other circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of those issuers to make principal or interest payments, as compared to issuers of more highly rated securities.
Extension Risk. The Fund is subject to the risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as mortgage-backed securities) later than expected. This may happen when there is a rise in interest rates. These events may lengthen the duration (i.e. interest rate sensitivity) and potentially reduce the value of these securities.
Prepayment Risk. Certain types of debt securities, such as mortgage-backed securities, have yield and maturity characteristics corresponding to underlying assets. Unlike traditional debt securities, which may pay a fixed rate of interest until maturity when the entire principal amount comes due, payments on certain mortgage-backed securities may include both interest and a partial payment of principal. Besides the scheduled repayment of principal, payments of principal may result from the voluntary prepayment, refinancing, or foreclosure of the underlying mortgage loans.
Securities subject to prepayment are less effective than other types of securities as a means of “locking in” attractive long-term interest rates. One reason is the need to reinvest prepayments of principal; another is the possibility of significant unscheduled prepayments resulting from declines in interest rates. These prepayments would have to be reinvested at lower rates. As a result, these securities may have less potential for capital appreciation during periods of declining interest rates than other securities of comparable maturities, although they may have a similar risk of decline in market value during periods of rising interest rates. Prepayments may also significantly shorten the effective maturities of these securities, especially during periods of declining interest rates. Conversely, during periods of rising interest rates, a reduction in
8 prepayments may increase the effective maturities of these securities, subjecting them to a greater risk of decline in market value in response to rising interest rates than traditional debt securities, and, therefore, potentially increasing the volatility of the Fund.
At times, some of the mortgage-backed securities in which the Fund may invest will have higher than market interest rates and therefore will be purchased at a premium above their par value. Prepayments may cause losses in securities purchased at a premium, as unscheduled prepayments, which are made at par, will cause the Fund to experience a loss equal to any unamortized premium.
Certificates of Deposit and Bankers’ Acceptances
Certificates of deposit are receipts issued by a depository institution in exchange for the deposit of funds. The issuer agrees to pay the amount deposited plus interest to the bearer of the receipt on the date specified on the certificate. The certificate usually can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity.
The Fund may invest in insured bank obligations. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insures the deposits of federally insured banks and savings and loan associations (collectively referred to as “banks”) up to $250,000. The Fund may purchase bank obligations that are fully insured as to principal by the FDIC. Currently, to remain fully insured as to principal, these investments must be limited to $250,000 per bank; if the principal amount and accrued interest together exceed $250,000, the excess principal and accrued interest will not be insured. Insured bank obligations may have limited marketability.
Bankers’ acceptances typically arise from short-term credit arrangements designed to enable businesses to obtain funds to finance commercial transactions. Generally, an acceptance is a time draft drawn on a bank by an exporter or an importer to obtain a stated amount of funds to pay for specific merchandise. The draft is then “accepted” by a bank that, in effect, unconditionally guarantees to pay the face value of the instrument on its maturity date. The acceptance may then be held by the accepting bank as an earning asset or it may be sold in the secondary market at the going rate of discount for a specific maturity. Although maturities for acceptances can be as long as 270 days, most acceptances have maturities of six months or less.
Time Deposits and Variable Rate Notes
The Fund may invest in fixed time deposits, whether or not subject to withdrawal penalties. The commercial paper obligations, which the Fund may buy are unsecured and may include variable rate notes. The nature and terms of a variable rate note (i.e., a “Master Note”) permit the Fund to invest fluctuating amounts at varying rates of interest pursuant to a direct arrangement between the Fund as Lender, and the issuer, as borrower. It permits daily changes in the amounts borrowed. The Fund has the right at any time to increase, up to the full amount stated in the note agreement, or to decrease the amount outstanding under the note. The issuer may prepay at any time and without penalty any part of or the full amount of the note. The note may or may not be backed by one or more bank letters of credit. Because these notes are direct lending arrangements between the Fund and the issuer, it is not generally contemplated that they will be traded; moreover, there is currently no secondary market for them. Except as specifically
9 provided in the Prospectus, there is no limitation on the type of issuer from whom these notes may be purchased; however, in connection with such purchase and on an ongoing basis, the Fund’s advisor will consider the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and its ability to pay principal and interest on demand, including a situation in which all holders of such notes made demand simultaneously. Variable rate notes are subject to the Fund’s investment restriction on illiquid securities unless such notes can be put back to the issuer on demand within seven days.
Commercial Paper
The Fund may purchase commercial paper. Commercial paper consists of short-term (usually from 1 to 270 days) unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations in order to finance their current operations. It may be secured by letters of credit, a surety bond or other forms of collateral. Commercial paper is usually repaid at maturity by the issuer from the proceeds of the issuance of new commercial paper. As a result, investment in commercial paper is subject to the risk the issuer cannot issue enough new commercial paper to satisfy its outstanding commercial paper, also known as rollover risk. Commercial paper may become illiquid or may suffer from reduced liquidity in certain circumstances. Like all fixed income securities, commercial paper prices are susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates. If interest rates rise, commercial paper prices will decline. The short-term nature of a commercial paper investment makes it less susceptible to interest rate risk than many other fixed income securities because interest rate risk typically increases as maturity lengths increase. Commercial paper tends to yield smaller returns than longer-term corporate debt because securities with shorter maturities typically have lower effective yields than those with longer maturities. As with all fixed income securities, there is a chance that the issuer will default on its commercial paper obligation.
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements. In a repurchase agreement, an investor (such as the Fund) purchases a security (known as the “underlying security”) from a securities dealer or bank. Any such dealer or bank must be deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. At that time, the bank or securities dealer agrees to repurchase the underlying security at a mutually agreed upon price on a designated future date. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to the Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at an agreed upon rate due to the Fund on repurchase. In either case, the income to the Fund generally will be unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying securities. Repurchase agreements must be “fully collateralized,” in that the market value of the underlying securities (including accrued interest) must at all times be equal to or greater than the repurchase price. Therefore, a repurchase agreement can be considered a loan collateralized by the underlying securities.
Repurchase agreements are generally for a short period of time, often less than a week, and will generally be used by the Fund to invest excess cash or as part of a temporary defensive strategy. Repurchase agreements that do not provide for payment within seven days will be treated as illiquid securities. In the event of a bankruptcy or other default by the seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying
10 security and losses. These losses could result from: (a) possible decline in the value of the underlying security while the Fund is seeking to enforce its rights under the repurchase agreement; (b) possible reduced levels of income or lack of access to income during this period; and (c) expenses of enforcing its rights.
High Yield Securities
The Fund may invest in high yield securities. High yield, high risk bonds are securities that are generally rated below investment grade by the primary rating agencies (BB+ or lower by S&P and Ba1 or lower by Moody’s). Other terms used to describe such securities include “lower rated bonds,” “non-investment grade bonds,” “below investment grade bonds,” and “junk bonds.” These securities are considered to be high-risk investments. The risks include the following:
Greater Risk of Loss. These securities are regarded as predominately speculative. There is a greater risk that issuers of lower rated securities will default than issuers of higher rated securities. Issuers of lower rated securities generally are less creditworthy and may be highly indebted, financially distressed, or bankrupt. These issuers are more vulnerable to real or perceived economic changes, political changes or adverse industry developments. In addition, high yield securities are frequently subordinated to the prior payment of senior indebtedness. If an issuer fails to pay principal or interest, the Fund would experience a decrease in income and a decline in the market value of its investments.
Sensitivity to Interest Rate and Economic Changes. The income and market value of lower-rated securities may fluctuate more than higher rated securities. Although non-investment grade securities tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than investment grade securities, non-investment grade securities are more sensitive to short-term corporate, economic and market developments. During periods of economic uncertainty and change, the market price of the investments in lower-rated securities may be volatile. The default rate for high yield bonds tends to be cyclical, with defaults rising in periods of economic downturn. For example, in 2000, 2001 and 2002, the default rate for high yield securities was significantly higher than in the prior or subsequent years.
Valuation Difficulties. It is often more difficult to value lower rated securities than higher rated securities. If an issuer’s financial condition deteriorates, accurate financial and business information may be limited or unavailable. In addition, the lower rated investments may be thinly traded and there may be no established secondary market. Because of the lack of market pricing and current information for investments in lower rated securities, valuation of such investments is much more dependent on judgment than is the case with higher rated securities.
Liquidity. There may be no established secondary or public market for investments in lower rated securities. Such securities are frequently traded in markets that may be relatively less liquid than the market for higher rated securities. In addition, relatively few institutional purchasers may hold a major portion of an issue of lower-rated securities at times. As a result, the Fund may be required to sell investments at substantial losses or retain them indefinitely when an issuer’s financial condition is deteriorating.
11 Credit Quality. Credit quality of non-investment grade securities can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently-issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security.
New Legislation. Future legislation may have a possible negative impact on the market for high yield, high risk bonds. As an example, in the late 1980s, legislation required federally- insured savings and loan associations to divest their investments in high yield, high risk bonds. New legislation, if enacted, could have a material negative effect on the Fund’s investments in lower rated securities.
High yield, high risk investments may include the following:
Straight fixed-income debt securities. These include bonds and other debt obligations that bear a fixed or variable rate of interest payable at regular intervals and have a fixed or resettable maturity date. The particular terms of such securities vary and may include features such as call provisions and sinking funds.
Zero-coupon debt securities. These bear no interest obligation but are issued at a discount from their value at maturity. When held to maturity, their entire return equals the difference between their issue price and their maturity value.
Zero-fixed-coupon debt securities. These are zero-coupon debt securities that convert on a specified date to interest-bearing debt securities.
Pay-in-kind bonds. These are bonds which allow the issuer, at its option, to make current interest payments on the bonds either in cash or in additional bonds. These are bonds sold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), usually to a relatively small number of institutional investors.
Convertible Securities. These are bonds or preferred stock that may be converted to common stock.
Preferred Stock. These are stocks that generally pay a dividend at a specified rate and have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and in liquidation.
Loan Participations and Assignments. These are participations in, or assignments of all or a portion of loans to corporations or to governments, including governments of less developed countries.
Securities issued in connection with Reorganizations and Corporate Restructurings. In connection with reorganizing or restructuring of an issuer, an issuer may issue common stock or other securities to holders of its debt securities. The Fund may hold such common stock and other securities even if it does not invest in such securities.
Municipal Government Obligations
In general, municipal obligations are debt obligations issued by or on behalf of states, territories and possessions of the United States (including the District of Columbia) and their
12 political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities. Municipal obligations generally include debt obligations issued to obtain funds for various public purposes. Certain types of municipal obligations are issued in whole or in part to obtain funding for privately operated facilities or projects. Municipal obligations include general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, industrial development bonds, notes and municipal lease obligations. Municipal obligations also include additional obligations, the interest on which is exempt from federal income tax, that may become available in the future as long as the Board of the Fund determines that an investment in any such type of obligation is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives. Municipal obligations may be fully or partially backed by local government, the credit of a private issuer, current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets or domestic or foreign entities providing credit support such as letters of credit, guarantees or insurance.
Bonds and Notes. General obligation bonds are secured by the issuer’s pledge of its full faith, credit and taxing power for the payment of interest and principal. Revenue bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a project or facility or from the proceeds of a specified revenue source. Industrial development bonds are generally revenue bonds secured by payments from and the credit of private users. Municipal notes are issued to meet the short-term funding requirements of state, regional and local governments. Municipal notes include tax anticipation notes, bond anticipation notes, revenue anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes, construction loan notes, short-term discount notes, tax-exempt commercial paper, demand notes and similar instruments.
Municipal Lease Obligations. Municipal lease obligations may take the form of a lease, an installment purchase or a conditional sales contract. They are issued by state and local governments and authorities to acquire land, equipment and facilities, such as vehicles, telecommunications and computer equipment and other capital assets. The Fund may invest in Underlying Funds that purchase these lease obligations directly, or it may purchase participation interests in such lease obligations (See “Participation Interests” section). States have different requirements for issuing municipal debt and issuing municipal leases. Municipal leases are generally subject to greater risks than general obligation or revenue bonds because they usually contain a “non-appropriation” clause, which provides that the issuer is not obligated to make payments on the obligation in future years unless funds have been appropriated for this purpose each year. Such non-appropriation clauses are required to avoid the municipal lease obligations from being treated as debt for state debt restriction purposes. Accordingly, such obligations are subject to “non-appropriation” risk. Municipal leases may be secured by the underlying capital asset and it may be difficult to dispose of any such asset in the event of non-appropriation or other default.
United States Government Obligations
These consist of various types of marketable securities issued by the United States Treasury, i.e., bills, notes and bonds. Such securities are direct obligations of the United States government and differ mainly in the length of their maturity. Treasury bills, the most frequently issued marketable government security, have a maturity of up to one year and are issued on a discount basis. The Fund may also invest in Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”). TIPS are special types of treasury bonds that were created in order to offer bond investors protection from inflation. The values of the TIPS are automatically adjusted to the inflation rate
13 as measured by the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). If the CPI goes up by half a percent, the value of the bond (the TIPS) would also go up by half a percent. If the CPI falls, the value of the bond does not fall because the government guarantees that the original investment will stay the same. TIPS decline in value when real interest rates rise. However, in certain interest rate environments, such as when real interest rates are rising faster than nominal interest rates, TIPS may experience greater losses than other fixed income securities with similar duration.
United States Government Agency Obligations
These consist of debt securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, including the various types of instruments currently outstanding or which may be offered in the future. Agencies include, among others, the Federal Housing Administration, Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Farmer’s Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Maritime Administration, and General Services Administration. Instrumentalities include, for example, each of the Federal Home Loan Banks, the National Bank for Cooperatives, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), and the United States Postal Service. These securities are either: (i) backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government (e.g., United States Treasury Bills); (ii) guaranteed by the United States Treasury (e.g., GNMA mortgage-backed securities); (iii) supported by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s right to borrow from the United States Treasury (e.g., FNMA Discount Notes); or (iv) supported only by the issuing agency’s or instrumentality’s own credit (e.g., Tennessee Valley Association). On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Authority (the “FHFA”) announced that FNMA and FHLMC had been placed into conservatorship, a statutory process designed to stabilize a troubled institution with the objective of returning the entity to normal business operations. The U.S. Treasury Department and the FHFA at the same time established a secured lending facility and a Secured Stock Purchase Agreement with both FNMA and FHLMC to ensure that each entity had the ability to fulfill its financial obligations. The FHFA announced that it does not anticipate any disruption in pattern of payments or ongoing business operations of FNMA and FHLMC.
Government-related guarantors (i.e. not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved seller/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.
FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. FHLMC issues Participation Certificates (“PCs”), which represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith
14 and credit of the United States Government. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage-related securities. Pools created by such nongovernmental issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than government and government-related pools because there are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in the former pools. However, timely payment of interest and principal of these pools may be supported by various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The insurance and guarantees are issued by governmental entities, private insurers and the mortgage poolers.
Mortgage Pass-Through Securities
Interests in pools of mortgage pass-through securities differ from other forms of debt securities (which normally provide periodic payments of interest in fixed amounts and the payment of principal in a lump sum at maturity or on specified call dates). Instead, mortgage pass-through securities provide monthly payments consisting of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on the underlying residential mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Unscheduled payments of principal may be made if the underlying mortgage loans are repaid or refinanced or the underlying properties are foreclosed, thereby shortening the securities’ weighted average life. Some mortgage pass-through securities (such as securities guaranteed by GNMA) are described as “modified pass-through securities.” These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, on the scheduled payment dates regardless of whether the mortgagor actually makes the payment.
The principal governmental guarantor of mortgage pass-through securities is GNMA. GNMA is authorized to guarantee, with the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury, the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by lending institutions approved by GNMA (such as savings and loan institutions, commercial banks and mortgage bankers) and backed by pools of mortgage loans. These mortgage loans are either insured by the Federal Housing Administration or guaranteed by the Veterans Administration. A “pool” or group of such mortgage loans is assembled and after being approved by GNMA, is offered to investors through securities dealers.
Government-related guarantors of mortgage pass-through securities (i.e., not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury) include FNMA and FHLMC. FNMA is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. It is subject to general regulation by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. FNMA purchases conventional (i.e., not insured or guaranteed by any government agency) residential mortgages from a list of approved sellers/servicers which include state and federally chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Mortgage pass-through securities issued by FNMA are guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by FNMA but are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.
15 FHLMC was created by Congress in 1970 for the purpose of increasing the availability of mortgage credit for residential housing. It is a U.S. government-sponsored corporation formerly owned by the twelve Federal Home Loan Banks and now owned entirely by private stockholders. FHLMC issues PCs, which represent interests in conventional mortgages from FHLMC’s national portfolio. FHLMC guarantees the timely payment of interest and ultimate collection of principal, but PCs are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury.
Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional residential mortgage loans. Such issuers may, in addition, be the originators and/or servicers of the underlying mortgage loans as well as the guarantors of the mortgage pass- through securities. The Fund does not purchase interests in pools created by such non- governmental issuers.
Resets. The interest rates paid on the Adjustable Rate Mortgage Securities (“ARMs”) in which the Fund may invest generally are readjusted or reset at intervals of one year or less to an increment over some predetermined interest rate index. There are two main categories of indices: those based on U.S. Treasury securities and those derived from a calculated measure, such as a cost of funds index or a moving average of mortgage rates. Commonly utilized indices include the one-year and five-year constant maturity Treasury Note rates, the three-month Treasury Bill rate, the 180-day Treasury Bill rate, rates on longer-term Treasury securities, the National Median Cost of Funds, the one-month or three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the prime rate of a specific bank, or commercial paper rates. Some indices, such as the one-year constant maturity Treasury Note rate, closely mirror changes in market interest rate levels. Others tend to lag changes in market rate levels and tend to be somewhat less volatile.
Caps and Floors. The underlying mortgages which collateralize the ARMs in which the Fund invests will frequently have caps and floors which limit the maximum amount by which the loan rate to the residential borrower may change up or down: (1) per reset or adjustment interval, and (2) over the life of the loan. Some residential mortgage loans restrict periodic adjustments by limiting changes in the borrower’s monthly principal and interest payments rather than limiting interest rate changes. These payment caps may result in negative amortization. The value of mortgage securities in which the Fund invests may be affected if market interest rates rise or fall faster and farther than the allowable caps or floors on the underlying residential mortgage loans. Additionally, even though the interest rates on the underlying residential mortgages are adjustable, amortization and prepayments may occur, thereby causing the effective maturities of the mortgage securities in which the Fund invests to be shorter than the maturities stated in the underlying mortgages.
Mortgage-Related Securities
The Fund may invest in a variety of mortgage-related securities issued by government agencies or other governmental entities or by private originators or issuers. The Fund may invest in senior and subordinate tranches. Mortgage-related securities include mortgage pass-through securities, residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”), collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”), mortgage dollar rolls, CMO residuals, adjustable rate mortgage-backed securities (“ARMBS”), stripped mortgage-backed
16 securities (“SMBS”) and other securities that directly or indirectly represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans on real property. Mortgage-backed securities differ from conventional debt securities because principal is paid back over the life of the security rather than at maturity. The Fund may receive unscheduled prepayments of principal before the security’s maturity date due to voluntary prepayments, refinancings, or foreclosures on the underlying mortgage loans.
RMBS are a type of mortgage backed security that is backed by mortgages on residential real estate. Credit-related risk on RMBS arises from losses due to delinquencies and defaults by the borrowers in payments on the underlying mortgage loans and breaches by originators and servicers of their obligations under the underlying documentation pursuant to which the RMBS are issued. The rate of delinquencies and defaults on residential mortgage loans and the aggregate amount of the resulting losses will be affected by a number of factors, including general economic conditions, particularly those in the area where the related mortgaged property is located, the level of the borrower’s equity in the mortgaged property and the individual financial circumstances of the borrower. If a residential mortgage loan is in default, foreclosure on the related residential property may be a lengthy and difficult process involving significant legal and other expenses. The net proceeds obtained by the holder on a residential mortgage loan following the foreclosure on the related property may be less than the total amount that remains due on the loan. The prospect of incurring a loss upon the foreclosure of the related property may lead the holder of the residential mortgage loan to restructure the residential mortgage loan or otherwise delay the foreclosure process. RMBS backed by non-performing loans, issued prior to 2008 typically have below investment grade ratings. Newly issued RMBS backed by performing loans, typically backed by jumbo prime loans have investment grade and below investment grade ratings at issuance. Non-performing RMBS performance is largely dependent on the servicer’s ability to work out loans in a timely manner with low loss severities; the quicker a loan is worked out and the lower the loss severity, the better the performance of the security. Credit risk may be limited by high quality of the borrowers and the low leverage of loans; risks potentially include variation in expected timing of loan payoff due to changes in interest rates, geographic concentration and ability of originators to fulfill repurchase obligations should there be breaches of representations and warranties.
CMBS are a type of mortgage-backed security that is secured by a single commercial mortgage loan or a pool of commercial real estate loans. Like all mortgage-backed securities, CMBS are subject to all of the risks of the underlying mortgage loans. Because they are not standardized, CMBS can be difficult to value. Commercial real estate loans are secured by multifamily or commercial property and are subject to risks of delinquency and foreclosure. Commercial Loans backed by income producing properties including multifamily, retail, office, hotel, industrial, self-storage and mixed-use properties. Loans typically have loan-to-value ratios (“LTVs”) less than 70% and debt service coverage ratios (“DSCRs”) in excess of 1.25x and are first lien mortgages. B-Notes are junior portions of first mortgages that typically have LTVs in excess of 70% and DSCRs less than 1.25x. Mezzanine loans are secured by the borrower’s interest and typically have LTV’s in excess of 70% and DSCRs less than 1.25x. Non-performing Loans are loans where the borrower has failed to make mortgage payments typically in excess of 90 days and are in special servicing. Investment grade CMBS carry investment grade ratings, i.e. in excess of BBB-, and have greater credit support or protection against losses relative to below investment grade CMBS that have ratings of BB+ and below. To the extent the loans
17 backing CMBS deals become delinquent the ability for the special servicer to mitigate loss severity in concert with the amount of credit support afforded the bonds will govern bond credit performance. The ability of a borrower to repay a loan secured by an income-producing property typically is dependent primarily upon the successful operation of such property rather than upon the existence of independent income or assets of the borrower. Commercial loan risks include failure of the borrower to be able to make debt service payments due to a decline in net operating income or the inability for the property to refinance at its maturity date, typically due to rising capitalization rates and/or a combination of declining net operating income and increasing capitalization rates. Whole loans have the most conservative underwriting parameters and therefore typically exhibit lower risk relative to B-Notes, Mezzanine loans and Non-performing loans which carry higher leverage, lower debt service coverage and may not be the most senior outstanding debt. If the net operating income of the property is reduced, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Net operating income of an income-producing property can be affected by, among other things: tenant mix, success of tenant businesses, property management decisions, property location and condition, competition from comparable types of properties, changes in laws that increase operating expenses or limit rents that may be charged, any need to address environmental contamination at the property, the occurrence of any uninsured casualty at the property, changes in national, regional or local economic conditions and/or specific industry segments, declines in regional or local real estate values, declines in regional or local rental or occupancy rates, increases in interest rates, real estate tax rates and other operating expenses, and changes in governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies, including environmental legislation, natural disasters, terrorism, social unrest and civil disturbances.
The Fund may have investments in below-investment grade RMBS and CMBS securities. Below-investment grade securities involve a higher degree of credit risk than investment grade debt securities. In the event of an unanticipated default, the Fund would experience a reduction in its income, a decline in the market value of the securities affected and a decline in the NAV of its shares. During an economic downturn or period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged and other below-investment grade issuers frequently experience financial stress that could adversely affect their ability to service principal and interest payment obligations, to meet projected business goals and to obtain additional financing. The market prices of below-investment grade debt securities are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than higher-rated investments but are more sensitive to adverse economic or political changes or individual developments specific to the issuer than higher-rated investments. Periods of economic or political uncertainty and change can be expected to result in significant volatility of prices for these securities. Rating services consider these securities to be speculative in nature.
Below-investment grade securities may be subject to market conditions, events of default or other circumstances which cause them to be considered “distressed securities.” Distressed securities frequently do not produce income while they are outstanding. The Fund may be required to bear certain extraordinary expenses in order to protect and recover its investments in certain distressed securities. Therefore, to the extent the Fund seeks investment returns through such securities, the Fund’s ability to achieve current income for its stockholders may be diminished. The Fund also is subject to significant uncertainty as to when and in what manner and for what value the obligations evidenced by distressed securities will eventually be satisfied (e.g., through a liquidation of the obligor’s assets, an exchange offer or plan of reorganization involving the securities or a payment of some amount in satisfaction of the obligation).
18 Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”). A CMO is a debt obligation of a legal entity that is collateralized by mortgages and divided into classes. Similar to a bond, interest and prepaid principal is paid, in most cases, on a monthly basis. CMOs may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans or private mortgage bonds, but are more typically collateralized by portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities guaranteed by GNMA, FHLMC or FNMA and their income streams. CMOs are structured into multiple classes, often referred to as “tranches,” with each class bearing a different stated maturity and entitled to a different schedule for payments of principal and interest, including prepayments. Actual maturity and average life will depend upon the pre-payment experience of the collateral. In the case of certain CMOs (known as “sequential pay” CMOs), payments of principal received from the pool of underlying mortgages, including prepayments, are applied to the classes of CMOs in the order of their respective final distribution dates. Thus, no payment of principal will be made to any class of sequential pay CMOs until all other classes having an earlier final distribution date have been paid in full. CMOs may be less liquid and may exhibit greater price volatility than other types of securities.
CMO Residuals. CMO residuals are mortgage securities issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. Government or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, homebuilders, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose entities of the foregoing. The cash flow generated by the mortgage assets underlying a series of a CMO is applied first to make required payments of principal and interest on the CMO and second to pay the related administrative expenses and any management fee of the issuer. The residual in a CMO structure generally represents the interest in any excess cash flow remaining after making the foregoing payments. Each payment of such excess cash flow to a holder of the related CMO residual represents income and/or a return of capital. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a CMO will depend on, among other things, the characteristics of the mortgage assets, the coupon rate of each class of CMO, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the prepayment experience on the mortgage assets. In particular, the yield to maturity on CMO residuals is extremely sensitive to prepayments on the related underlying mortgage assets, in the same manner as an interest- only (“IO”) class of stripped mortgage-backed securities (described below). In addition, if a series of a CMO includes a class that bears interest at an adjustable rate, the yield to maturity on the related CMO residual will also be extremely sensitive to changes in the level of the index upon which interest rate adjustments are based. As described below with respect to stripped mortgage-backed securities, in certain circumstances the Fund may fail to recoup fully its initial investment in a CMO residual. CMO residuals are generally purchased and sold by institutional investors through several investment banking firms acting as brokers or dealers. CMO residuals may, or pursuant to an exemption therefrom, may not, have been registered under the Securities Act. CMO residuals, whether or not registered under the Securities Act, may be subject to certain restrictions on transferability.
Mortgage Pass-Through Securities. Interests in pools of mortgage pass-through securities differ from other forms of debt securities (which normally provide periodic payments of interest in fixed amounts and the payment of principal in a lump sum at maturity or on specified call dates). Instead, mortgage pass-through securities provide monthly payments consisting of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on the underlying residential
19 mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Unscheduled payments of principal may be made if the underlying mortgage loans are repaid or refinanced or the underlying properties are foreclosed, thereby shortening the securities’ weighted average life. Some mortgage pass-through securities (such as securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae) are described as “modified pass-through securities. “ These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, on the scheduled payment dates regardless of whether the mortgagor actually makes the payment.
Resets. The interest rates paid on the ARMBS in which the Fund may invest generally are readjusted or reset at intervals of one year or less to an increment over some predetermined interest rate index. There are two main categories of indices: those based on U.S. Treasury securities and those derived from a calculated measure, such as a cost of funds index or a moving average of mortgage rates. Commonly utilized indices include the one-year and five-year constant maturity Treasury Note rates, the three-month Treasury Bill rate, the 180-day Treasury Bill rate, rates on longer-term Treasury securities, the National Median Cost of Funds, the one- month or three-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the prime rate of a specific bank, or commercial paper rates. Some indices, such as the one-year constant maturity Treasury Note rate, closely mirror changes in market interest rate levels. Others tend to lag changes in market rate levels and tend to be somewhat less volatile.
Private Mortgage Pass-Through Securities. Private mortgage pass-through securities are structured similarly to the Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage pass-through securities and are issued by United States and foreign private issuers such as originators of and investors in mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. These securities usually are backed by a pool of conventional fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage loans. Since private mortgage pass-through securities typically are not guaranteed by an entity having the credit status of Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, such securities generally are structured with one or more types of credit enhancement.
Mortgage assets often consist a pool of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. There are usually fewer properties in a pool of assets backing commercial mortgage-backed securities than in a pool of assets backing residential mortgage-backed securities hence they may be more sensitive to the performance of fewer mortgage assets. To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, those securities may contain elements of credit support, which fall into two categories: (i) liquidity protection and (ii) protection against losses resulting from ultimate default by an obligor on the underlying assets. Liquidity protection refers to the provision of advances, generally by the entity administering the pool of assets, to ensure that the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion. Protection against losses resulting from default ensures ultimate payment of the obligations on at least a portion of the assets in the pool. This protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, through various means of structuring the transaction or through a combination of such approaches. The degree of credit support provided for each issue is generally based on historical information respecting the level of credit risk associated with the underlying assets. Delinquencies or losses in excess of those anticipated could adversely affect
20 the return on an investment in a security. The Fund will not pay any fees for credit support, although the existence of credit support may increase the price of a security.
Stripped Mortgage Securities. Stripped mortgage securities may be issued by Federal Agencies, or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings and loan associations, mortgage banks, commercial banks, investment banks and special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing.
Stripped mortgage securities usually are structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distribution of a pool of mortgage assets. A common type of stripped mortgage security will have one class receiving some of the interest and most of the principal from the mortgage assets, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remainder of the principal. In the most extreme case, one class will receive all of the interest the IO class, while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). PO classes generate income through the accretion of the deep discount at which such securities are purchased, and, while PO classes do not receive periodic payments of interest, they receive monthly payments associated with scheduled amortization and principal prepayment from the mortgage assets underlying the PO class. The yield to maturity on a PO or an IO class security is extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets. A slower than expected rate of principal payments may have an adverse effect on a PO class security’s yield to maturity. If the underlying mortgage assets experience slower than anticipated principal repayment, the Fund may fail to fully recoup its initial investment in these securities. Conversely, a rapid rate of principal payments may have a material adverse effect on an IO class security’s yield to maturity. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments or principal, the Fund may fail to fully recoup its initial investment in these securities.
The Fund may purchase stripped mortgage securities for income and gain, or for hedging purposes to protect the Fund’s portfolio against interest rate fluctuations. For example, since an IO class will tend to increase in value as interest rates rise, it may be utilized to hedge against a decrease in value of other fixed-income securities in a rising interest rate environment. Additionally, IOs have negative durations, which mean that their prices are negatively correlated with the prices of other traditional fixed income securities. IOs increase in price as rates rise and fall as rates drop. IOs provide investors with the ability to reduce duration risk of traditional fixed income securities that generally have positive durations.
The Fund may purchase Government-Sponsored Enterprise Mortgage Servicing Rights (“GSE MSRs”). MSRs receive 25 bps in servicing revenue and pay approximately 6 bps in servicing revenues, both as a percentage of the unpaid principal balance of the servicing rights. Similar to IOs, MSRs have negative duration and decline in value as interest rates fall, but increase in value as interest rates rise. Similar to loans, MSRs “pay-off” and the entire value of the MSR is written down to zero. MSRs are more likely to pay off when interest rates decline and the underlying loans refinance. Generally, adding new MSRs helps offset losses as new MSRs are acquired more cheaply than existing MSRs in the market and are expected to be outstanding longer due to the lower interest rate of the underlying mortgages, if rates are lower.
21 General Risks Related to Mortgage-Related Securities.
The following is a summary of principle risks associated with Mortgage-Related Securities:
Guarantor Risk. There can be no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support to an agency or government sponsored enterprise (such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac) if necessary in the future. Certain mortgage-related securities are guaranteed by a third party, which may default.
Interest Rate Sensitivity. If the Fund purchases a mortgage-related security at a premium, a portion of that investment may be lost if there is a decline in the market value of the security whether resulting from changes in interest rates or prepayments in the underlying mortgage collateral. As with other interest-bearing securities, the prices of such securities are inversely affected by changes in interest rates. Although the value of a mortgage-related security may decline when interest rates rise, the converse is not necessarily true since in periods of declining interest rates the mortgages underlying the securities are prone to prepayment. For this and other reasons, a mortgage-related security’s stated maturity may be shortened by unscheduled prepayments on the underlying mortgages and, therefore, it is not possible to predict with certainty the security’s return to the Fund.
Liquidity. The liquidity of certain mortgage-backed securities varies by type of security; at certain times the Fund may encounter difficulty in disposing of such investments. In the past, in stressed markets, certain types of mortgage-backed securities suffered periods of illiquidity when disfavored by the market. It is possible that the Fund may be unable to sell a mortgage- backed security at a desirable time or at the value the Fund has placed on the investment.
Market Value. The value of a mortgage-related security may decline when interest rates rise. Furthermore, the market value of the Fund’s adjustable rate Mortgage-Backed Securities may be adversely affected if interest rates increase faster than the rates of interest payable on such securities or by the adjustable rate mortgage loans underlying such securities. Adjustable rate Mortgage-Backed Securities or the mortgage loans underlying such securities may contain provisions limiting the amount by which rates may be adjusted upward and downward and may limit the amount by which monthly payments may be increased or decreased to accommodate upward and downward adjustments in interest rates. When the market value of the properties underlying the Mortgage-Backed Securities suffer broad declines on a regional or national level, the values of the corresponding Mortgage-Backed Securities or Mortgage-Backed Securities as a whole, may be adversely affected as well.
Prepayments. The market value of fixed rate Mortgage-Backed Securities may be adversely affected as a result of increases in interest rates and, because of the risk of unscheduled principal prepayments, may benefit less than other fixed rate securities of similar maturity from declining interest rates. Adjustable rate Mortgage-Backed Securities have less potential for capital appreciation than fixed rate Mortgage-Backed Securities because their coupon rates will decline in response to market interest rate declines. To the extent Mortgage-Backed Securities are purchased at a premium, mortgage foreclosures and unscheduled principal prepayments may result in some loss of the Fund’s principal investment to the extent of the premium paid. On the
22 other hand, if such securities are purchased at a discount, both a scheduled payment of principal and an unscheduled prepayment of principal will increase current and total returns and will accelerate the recognition of income.
Yield Characteristics. The yield characteristics of Mortgage-Backed Securities differ from those of traditional fixed income securities. The major differences typically include more frequent interest and principal payments, usually monthly, and the possibility that prepayments of principal may be made at any time. Prepayment rates are influenced by changes in current interest rates and a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors and cannot be predicted with certainty. As with fixed rate mortgage loans, adjustable rate mortgage loans may be subject to a greater prepayment rate in a declining interest rate environment. The yields to maturity of the Mortgage-Backed Securities in which the Funds invest will be affected by the actual rate of payment (including prepayments) of principal of the underlying mortgage loans. The mortgage loans underlying such securities generally may be prepaid at any time without penalty. In a fluctuating interest rate environment, a predominant factor affecting the prepayment rate on a pool of mortgage loans is the difference between the interest rates on the mortgage loans and prevailing mortgage loan interest rates taking into account the cost of any refinancing. In general, if mortgage loan interest rates fall sufficiently below the interest rates on fixed rate mortgage loans underlying mortgage pass-through securities, the rate of prepayment would be expected to increase. Conversely, if mortgage loan interest rates rise above the interest rates on the fixed rate mortgage loans underlying the mortgage pass-through securities, the rate of prepayment may be expected to decrease.
Securities of Other Investment Companies
The Fund’s investments in Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”), mutual funds and closed- end funds involve certain additional expenses and certain tax results, which would not be present in a direct investment in the underlying fund. Due to legal limitations, the Fund will be prevented from: 1) purchasing more than 3% of an investment company’s (including ETFs) outstanding shares; 2) investing more than 5% of the Fund’s assets in any single such investment company, and 3) investing more than 10% of the Fund’s assets in investment companies overall; unless: (i) the underlying investment company and/or the Fund has received an order for exemptive relief from such limitations from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); and (ii) the underlying investment company and the Fund take appropriate steps to comply with any conditions in such order. In the alternative, the Fund may rely on Rule 12d1-3, which allows unaffiliated mutual funds to exceed the 5% limitation and the 10% limitation, provided the aggregate sales loads any investor pays (i.e., the combined distribution expenses of both the acquiring fund and the acquired fund) does not exceed the limits on sales loads established by FINRA for funds of funds. In addition to ETFs, the Fund may invest in other investment companies such as open-end mutual funds or exchange-traded closed-end funds, within the limitations described above.
Closed-End Investment Companies
The Fund may invest its assets in “closed-end” investment companies (or “closed-end funds”), subject to the investment restrictions set forth above. Shares of closed-end funds are typically offered to the public in a one-time initial public offering by a group of underwriters
23 who retain a spread or underwriting commission of between 4% or 6% of the initial public offering price. Such securities are then listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (commonly known as “NASDAQ”) and, in some cases, may be traded in other over-the-counter markets. Because the shares of closed-end funds cannot be redeemed upon demand to the issuer like the shares of an open-end investment company (such as the Fund), investors seek to buy and sell shares of closed-end funds in the secondary market.
The Fund generally will purchase shares of closed-end funds only in the secondary market. The Fund will incur normal brokerage costs on such purchases similar to the expenses the Fund would incur for the purchase of securities of any other type of issuer in the secondary market. The Fund may, however, also purchase securities of a closed-end fund in an initial public offering when, in the opinion of the Adviser, based on a consideration of the nature of the closed-end fund’s proposed investments, the prevailing market conditions and the level of demand for such securities, they represent an attractive opportunity for growth of capital. The initial offering price typically will include a dealer spread, which may be higher than the applicable brokerage cost if the Fund purchased such securities in the secondary market.
The shares of many closed-end funds, after their initial public offering, frequently trade at a price per share, which is less than the net asset value per share, the difference representing the “market discount” of such shares. This market discount may be due in part to the investment objective of long-term appreciation, which is sought by many closed-end funds, as well as to the fact that the shares of closed-end funds are not redeemable by the holder upon demand to the issuer at the next determined net asset value but rather are subject to the principles of supply and demand in the secondary market. A relative lack of secondary market purchasers of closed-end fund shares also may contribute to such shares trading at a discount to their net asset value.
The Fund may invest in shares of closed-end funds that are trading at a discount to net asset value or at a premium to net asset value. There can be no assurance that the market discount on shares of any closed-end fund purchased by the Fund will ever decrease. In fact, it is possible that this market discount may increase and the Fund may suffer realized or unrealized capital losses due to further decline in the market price of the securities of such closed-end funds, thereby adversely affecting the net asset value of the Fund’s shares. Similarly, there can be no assurance that any shares of a closed-end fund purchased by the Fund at a premium will continue to trade at a premium or that the premium will not decrease subsequent to a purchase of such shares by the Fund.
Closed-end funds may issue senior securities (including preferred stock and debt obligations) for the purpose of leveraging the closed-end fund’s common shares in an attempt to enhance the current return to such closed-end fund’s common shareholders. The Fund’s investment in the common shares of closed-end funds that are financially leveraged may create an opportunity for greater total return on its investment, but at the same time may be expected to exhibit more volatility in market price and net asset value than an investment in shares of investment companies without a leveraged capital structure.
24 Open-End Investment Companies
The Fund and any “affiliated persons,” as defined by the 1940 Act, may purchase in the aggregate only up to 3% of the total outstanding securities of any underlying fund. Accordingly, when affiliated persons hold shares of any of the underlying fund, the Fund’s ability to invest fully in shares of those funds is restricted, and the Adviser must then, in some instances, select alternative investments that would not have been its first preference. The 1940 Act also provides that an underlying fund whose shares are purchased by the Fund will be obligated to redeem shares held by the Fund only in an amount up to 1% of the underlying fund’s outstanding securities during any period of less than 30 days. Shares held by the Fund in excess of 1% of an underlying fund’s outstanding securities therefore, will be considered not readily marketable securities, which, together with other such securities, may not exceed 15% of the Fund’s total assets.
Under certain circumstances, an underlying fund may determine to make payment of a redemption by the Fund wholly or partly by a distribution in kind of securities from its portfolio, in lieu of cash, in conformity with the rules of the SEC. In such cases, the Fund may hold securities distributed by an underlying fund until the Adviser determines that it is appropriate to dispose of such securities.
Investment decisions by the Investment Advisers of the underlying fund(s) are made independently of the Fund and its Adviser. Therefore, the Investment Adviser of one underlying fund may be purchasing shares of the same issuer whose shares are being sold by the Investment Adviser of another such fund. The result would be an indirect expense to the Fund without accomplishing any investment purpose.
Exchange Traded Funds
ETFs are generally passive funds that track their related index and have the flexibility of trading like a security. They are managed by professionals and provide the investor with diversification, cost and tax efficiency, liquidity, marginability, are useful for hedging, have the ability to go long and short, and some provide quarterly dividends. Additionally, some ETFs are unit investment trusts. ETFs typically have two markets. The primary market is where institutions swap “creation units” in block-multiples of, for example, 50,000 shares for in-kind securities and cash in the form of dividends. The secondary market is where individual investors can trade as little as a single share during trading hours on the exchange. This is different from open-ended mutual funds that are traded after hours once the net asset value “NAV” is calculated. ETFs share many similar risks with open-end and closed-end funds.
Foreign Securities
General. The Fund may invest in foreign securities and ETFs and other investment companies that hold a portfolio of foreign securities. Investing in securities of foreign companies and countries involves certain considerations and risks that are not typically associated with investing in U.S. government securities and securities of domestic companies. There may be less publicly available information about a foreign issuer than a domestic one, and foreign companies are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial
25 standards and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. There may also be less government supervision and regulation of foreign securities exchanges, brokers and listed companies than exists in the United States. Interest and dividends paid by foreign issuers may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes, which may decrease the net return on such investments as compared to dividends and interest paid to the Fund by domestic companies or the U.S. government. There may be the possibility of expropriations, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, confiscatory taxation, political, economic or social instability or diplomatic developments that could affect assets of the Fund held in foreign countries. Finally, the establishment of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions could adversely affect the payment of obligations.
To the extent the Fund’s currency exchange transactions do not fully protect the Fund against adverse changes in currency exchange rates, decreases in the value of currencies of the foreign countries in which the Fund will invest relative to the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding decrease in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets denominated in those currencies (and possibly a corresponding increase in the amount of securities required to be liquidated to meet distribution requirements). Conversely, increases in the value of currencies of the foreign countries in which the Fund invests relative to the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding increase in the U.S. dollar value of the Fund’s assets (and possibly a corresponding decrease in the amount of securities to be liquidated).
Emerging Markets Securities
The Fund may purchase securities of emerging market issuers and ETFs and other investment companies that invest in emerging market securities. Investing in emerging market securities imposes risks different from, or greater than, risks of investing in foreign developed countries. These risks include: smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible repatriation of investment income and capital. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales. Future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization, or creation of government monopolies. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.
Additional risks of emerging markets securities may include: greater social, economic and political uncertainty and instability; more substantial governmental involvement in the economy; less governmental supervision and regulation; unavailability of currency hedging techniques; companies that are newly organized and small; differences in auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; and less developed legal systems. In addition, emerging securities markets may have different clearance and settlement procedures, which may be unable to keep pace with the volume of securities transactions or otherwise make it difficult to engage in such transactions. Settlement problems may cause the Fund to miss attractive investment opportunities, hold a portion of its
26 assets in cash pending investment, or be delayed in disposing of a portfolio security. Such a delay could result in possible liability to a purchaser of the security.
Securities Options
The Fund may purchase and write (i.e., sell) put and call options. Such options may relate to particular securities or stock indices, and may or may not be listed on a domestic or foreign securities exchange and may or may not be issued by the Options Clearing Corporation. Options trading is a highly specialized activity that entails greater than ordinary investment risk. Options may be more volatile than the underlying instruments, and therefore, on a percentage basis, an investment in options may be subject to greater fluctuation than an investment in the underlying instruments themselves.
A call option for a particular security gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the writer (seller) the obligation to sell, the underlying security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration of the option, regardless of the market price of the security. The premium paid to the writer is in consideration for undertaking the obligation under the option contract. A put option for a particular security gives the purchaser the right to sell the security at the stated exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option, regardless of the market price of the security.
Stock index options are put options and call options on various stock indices. In most respects, they are identical to listed options on common stocks. The primary difference between stock options and index options occurs when index options are exercised. In the case of stock options, the underlying security, common stock, is delivered. However, upon the exercise of an index option, settlement does not occur by delivery of the securities comprising the index. The option holder who exercises the index option receives an amount of cash if the closing level of the stock index upon which the option is based is greater than, in the case of a call, or less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing price of the stock index and the exercise price of the option expressed in dollars times a specified multiple. A stock index fluctuates with changes in the market value of the stocks included in the index. For example, some stock index options are based on a broad market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 500® Index or the Value Line Composite Index or a narrower market index, such as the Standard & Poor’s 100®. Indices may also be based on an industry or market segment, such as the AMEX Oil and Gas Index or the Computer and Business Equipment Index. Options on stock indices are currently traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.
The Fund’s obligation to sell an instrument subject to a call option written by it, or to purchase an instrument subject to a put option written by it, may be terminated prior to the expiration date of the option by the Fund’s execution of a closing purchase transaction, which is effected by purchasing on an exchange an option of the same series (i.e., same underlying instrument, exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously written. A closing purchase transaction will ordinarily be effected to realize a profit on an outstanding option, to prevent an underlying instrument from being called, to permit the sale of the underlying instrument or to permit the writing of a new option containing different terms on such underlying
27 instrument. The cost of such a liquidation purchase plus transactions costs may be greater than the premium received upon the original option, in which event the Fund will have paid a loss in the transaction. There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular option. An option writer unable to effect a closing purchase transaction will not be able to sell the underlying instrument or liquidate the assets held in a segregated account, as described below, until the option expires or the optioned instrument is delivered upon exercise. In such circumstances, the writer will be subject to the risk of market decline or appreciation in the instrument during such period.
If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a loss equal to the premium paid. If the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction on an option purchased by it, the Fund will realize a gain if the premium received by the Fund on the closing transaction is more than the premium paid to purchase the option, or a loss if it is less. If an option written by the Fund expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, it will realize a gain (or loss if the cost of a closing purchase transaction exceeds the net premium received when the option is sold). If an option written by the Fund is exercised, the proceeds of the sale will be increased by the net premium originally received and the Fund will realize a gain or loss.
Certain Risks Regarding Options. There are several risks associated with transactions in options. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. In addition, a liquid secondary market for particular options, whether traded over-the-counter or on an exchange, may be absent for reasons which include the following: there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options; restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or closing transactions or both; trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities or currencies; unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations on an exchange; the facilities of an exchange or the Options Clearing Corporation may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading value; or one or more exchanges could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on that exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist, although outstanding options that had been issued by the Options Clearing Corporation as a result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
Successful use by the Fund of options on stock indices will be subject to the ability of the Adviser to correctly predict movements in the directions of the stock market. This requires different skills and techniques than predicting changes in the prices of individual securities. In addition, a fund’s ability to effectively hedge all or a portion of the securities in its portfolio, in anticipation of or during a market decline, through transactions in put options on stock indices, depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index correlate with the price movements of the securities held by the Fund. Inasmuch as the Fund’s securities will not duplicate the components of an index, the correlation will not be perfect. Consequently, the Fund bears the risk that the prices of its securities being hedged will not move in the same amount as the prices of its put options on the stock indices. It is also possible that there may be a negative
28 correlation between the index and the Fund’s securities that would result in a loss on both such securities and the options on stock indices acquired by the Fund.
The hours of trading for options may not conform to the hours during which the underlying securities are traded. To the extent that the options markets close before the markets for the underlying securities, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the options markets. The purchase of options is a highly specialized activity that involves investment techniques and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The purchase of stock index options involves the risk that the premium and transaction costs paid by the Fund in purchasing an option will be lost as a result of unanticipated movements in prices of the securities comprising the stock index on which the option is based.
There is no assurance that a liquid secondary market on an options exchange will exist for any particular option, or at any particular time, and for some options no secondary market on an exchange or elsewhere may exist. If the Fund is unable to close out a call option on securities that it has written before the option is exercised, the Fund may be required to purchase the optioned securities in order to satisfy its obligation under the option to deliver such securities. If the Fund is unable to effect a closing sale transaction with respect to options on securities that it has purchased, it would have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit and would incur transaction costs upon the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.
Cover for Options Positions. Transactions using options (other than options that the Fund has purchased) expose the Fund to an obligation to another party. The Fund will not enter into any such transactions unless it owns either (i) an offsetting (“covered”) position in securities or other options or (ii) cash or liquid securities with a value sufficient at all times to cover its potential obligations not covered as provided in (i) above. The Fund will comply with SEC guidelines regarding cover for these instruments and, if the guidelines so require, set aside cash or liquid securities in a segregated account with the Fund’s custodian in the prescribed amount. Under current SEC guidelines, the Fund will segregate assets to cover transactions in which the Fund writes or sells options.
Assets used as cover or held in a segregated account cannot be sold while the position in the corresponding option is open, unless they are replaced with similar assets. As a result, the commitment of a large portion of the Fund’s assets to cover or segregated accounts could impede portfolio management or the Fund’s ability to meet redemption requests or other current obligations.
Options on Futures Contracts
The Fund may purchase and sell options on the same types of futures in which it may invest. Options on futures are similar to options on underlying instruments except that options on futures give the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract (a long position if the option is a call and a short position if the option is a put), rather than to purchase or sell the futures contract, at a specified exercise price at any time during the period of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the delivery of the futures position by the writer of the option to the holder of the option will be accompanied by the delivery of the
29 accumulated balance in the writer’s futures margin account which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract, at exercise, exceeds (in the case of a call) or is less than (in the case of a put) the exercise price of the option on the futures contract. Purchasers of options who fail to exercise their options prior to the exercise date suffer a loss of the premium paid.
Dealer Options
The Fund may engage in transactions involving dealer options as well as exchange-traded options. Certain additional risks are specific to dealer options. While the Fund might look to a clearing corporation to exercise exchange-traded options, if the Fund were to purchase a dealer option it would need to rely on the dealer from which it purchased the option to perform if the option were exercised. Failure by the dealer to do so would result in the loss of the premium paid by the Fund as well as loss of the expected benefit of the transaction.
Exchange-traded options generally have a continuous liquid market while dealer options may not. Consequently, the Fund may generally be able to realize the value of a dealer option it has purchased only by exercising or reselling the option to the dealer who issued it. Similarly, when the Fund writes a dealer option, it may generally be able to close out the option prior to its expiration only by entering into a closing purchase transaction with the dealer to whom the Fund originally wrote the option. While the Fund will seek to enter into dealer options only with dealers who will agree to and which are expected to be capable of entering into closing transactions with the Fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will at any time be able to liquidate a dealer option at a favorable price at any time prior to expiration. Unless the Fund, as a covered dealer call option writer, is able to effect a closing purchase transaction, it will not be able to liquidate securities (or other assets) used as cover until the option expires or is exercised. In the event of insolvency of the other party, the Fund may be unable to liquidate a dealer option. With respect to options written by the Fund, the inability to enter into a closing transaction may result in material losses to the Fund. For example, because the Fund must maintain a secured position with respect to any call option on a security it writes, the Fund may not sell the assets, which it has segregated to secure the position while it is obligated under the option. This requirement may impair the Fund’s ability to sell portfolio securities at a time when such sale might be advantageous.
The Staff of the SEC has taken the position that purchased dealer options are illiquid securities. The Fund may treat the cover used for written dealer options as liquid if the dealer agrees that the Fund may repurchase the dealer option it has written for a maximum price to be calculated by a predetermined formula. In such cases, the dealer option would be considered illiquid only to the extent the maximum purchase price under the formula exceeds the intrinsic value of the option. Accordingly, the Fund will treat dealer options as subject to the Fund’s limitation on illiquid securities. If the SEC changes its position on the liquidity of dealer options, the Fund will change its treatment of such instruments accordingly.
Spread Transactions
The Fund may purchase covered spread options from securities dealers. These covered spread options are not presently exchange-listed or exchange-traded. The purchase of a spread
30 option gives the Fund the right to put securities that it owns at a fixed dollar spread or fixed yield spread in relationship to another security that the Fund does not own, but which is used as a benchmark. The risk to the Fund, in addition to the risks of dealer options described above, is the cost of the premium paid as well as any transaction costs. The purchase of spread options will be used to protect the Fund against adverse changes in prevailing credit quality spreads, i.e., the yield spread between high quality and lower quality securities. This protection is provided only during the life of the spread options.
Futures Contracts
A futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument (e.g., units of a stock index) for a specified price, date, time and place designated at the time the contract is made. Brokerage fees are paid when a futures contract is bought or sold and margin deposits must be maintained. Entering into a contract to buy is commonly referred to as buying or purchasing a contract or holding a long position. Entering into a contract to sell is commonly referred to as selling a contract or holding a short position.
Unlike when the Fund purchases or sells a security, no price would be paid or received by the Fund upon the purchase or sale of a futures contract. Upon entering into a futures contract, and to maintain the Fund’s open positions in futures contracts, the Fund would be required to deposit with its custodian or futures broker in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker an amount of cash, U.S. government securities, suitable money market instruments, or other liquid securities, known as “initial margin.” The margin required for a particular futures contract is set by the exchange on which the contract is traded, and may be significantly modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold on margins that may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.
If the price of an open futures contract changes (by increase in underlying instrument or index in the case of a sale or by decrease in the case of a purchase) so that the loss on the futures contract reaches a point at which the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, the broker will require an increase in the margin. However, if the value of a position increases because of favorable price changes in the futures contract so that the margin deposit exceeds the required margin, the broker will pay the excess to the Fund.
These subsequent payments, called “variation margin,” to and from the futures broker, are made on a daily basis as the price of the underlying assets fluctuate making the long and short positions in the futures contract more or less valuable, a process known as “marking to the market.” The Fund expects to earn interest income on its margin deposits.
Although certain futures contracts, by their terms, require actual future delivery of and payment for the underlying instruments, in practice most futures contracts are usually closed out before the delivery date. Closing out an open futures contract purchase or sale is effected by entering into an offsetting futures contract sale or purchase, respectively, for the same aggregate amount of the identical underlying instrument or index and the same delivery date. If the offsetting purchase price is less than the original sale price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is more,
31 the Fund realizes a loss. Conversely, if the offsetting sale price is more than the original purchase price, the Fund realizes a gain; if it is less, the Fund realizes a loss. The transaction costs must also be included in these calculations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Fund will be able to enter into an offsetting transaction with respect to a particular futures contract at a particular time. If the Fund is not able to enter into an offsetting transaction, the Fund will continue to be required to maintain the margin deposits on the futures contract.
For example, one contract in the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index future is a contract to buy 25 pounds sterling multiplied by the level of the UK Financial Times 100 Share Index on a given future date. Settlement of a stock index futures contract may or may not be in the underlying instrument or index. If not in the underlying instrument or index, then settlement will be made in cash, equivalent over time to the difference between the contract price and the actual price of the underlying asset at the time the stock index futures contract expires.
Swap Agreements
The Fund may enter into swap agreements for purposes of attempting to gain exposure to equity, debt, commodities or other asset markets without actually purchasing those assets, or to hedge a position. Swap agreements are two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors for periods ranging from a day to more than one year. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are calculated with respect to a “notional amount,” i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index.
Most swap agreements entered into by the Fund calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreement on a “net basis.” Consequently, the Fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). Payments may be made at the conclusion of a swap agreement or periodically during its term.
Swap agreements do not involve the delivery of securities or other underlying assets. Accordingly, if a swap is entered into on a net basis, if the other party to a swap agreement defaults, the Fund’s risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive, if any.
The net amount of the excess, if any, of the Fund’s obligations over its entitlements with respect to a swap agreement entered into on a net basis will be accrued daily and an amount of cash or liquid asset having an aggregate net asset value at least equal to the accrued excess will be maintained in an account with the Custodian. The Fund will also establish and maintain such accounts with respect to its total obligations under any swaps that are not entered into on a net basis. Obligations under swap agreements so covered will not be construed to be “senior securities” for purposes of the Fund’s investment restriction concerning senior securities.
32 Because they are two-party contracts and because they may have terms of greater than seven days, swap agreements may be considered to be illiquid for the Fund’s illiquid investment limitations. The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy. The Fund bears the risk of loss of the amount expected to be received under a swap agreement in the event of the default or bankruptcy of a swap agreement counter-party.
The Fund may enter into a swap agreement in circumstances where the Adviser believes that it may be more cost effective or practical than buying the securities represented by such index or a futures contract or an option on such index. The counter-party to any swap agreement will typically be a bank, investment banking firm or broker/dealer. The counter-party will generally agree to pay the Fund the amount, if any, by which the notional amount of the swap agreement would have increased in value had it been invested in the particular stocks represented in the index, plus the dividends that would have been received on those stocks. The Fund will agree to pay to the counter-party a floating rate of interest on the notional amount of the swap agreement plus the amount, if any, by which the notional amount would have decreased in value had it been invested in such stocks. Therefore, the return to the Fund on any swap agreement should be the gain or loss on the notional amount plus dividends on the stocks less the interest paid by the Fund on the notional amount.
The swap market has grown substantially in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a result, the swap market has become relatively liquid in comparison with the markets for other similar instruments that are traded in the OTC market.
Regulation as a Commodity Pool Operator
The Trust, with respect to the Fund, has filed with the National Futures Association, a notice claiming an exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” under the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to the Fund’s operations. Accordingly, neither the Fund nor the Adviser is subject to registration or regulation as a commodity pool operator.
When-Issued, Forward Commitments and Delayed Settlements
The Fund may purchase and sell securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis. In this event, the Custodian (as defined under the section entitled “Custodian”) will segregate liquid assets equal to the amount of the commitment in a separate account. Normally, the Custodian will set aside portfolio securities to satisfy a purchase commitment. In such a case, the Fund may be required subsequently to segregate additional assets in order to assure that the value of the account remains equal to the amount of the Fund’s commitment. It may be expected that the Fund’s net assets will fluctuate to a greater degree when it sets aside portfolio securities to cover such purchase commitments than when it sets aside cash.
The Fund does not intend to engage in these transactions for speculative purposes but only in furtherance of its investment objectives. Because the Fund will segregate liquid assets to
33 satisfy its purchase commitments in the manner described, the Fund’s liquidity and the ability of the Adviser to manage them may be affected in the event the Fund’s forward commitments, commitments to purchase when-issued securities and delayed settlements ever exceeded 15% of the value of its net assets.
The Fund will purchase securities on a when-issued, forward commitment or delayed settlement basis only with the intention of completing the transaction. If deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy, however, the Fund may dispose of or renegotiate a commitment after it is entered into, and may sell securities it has committed to purchase before those securities are delivered to the Fund on the settlement date. In these cases, the Fund may realize a taxable capital gain or loss. When the Fund engages in when-issued, forward commitment and delayed settlement transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the trade. Failure of such party to do so may result in the Fund incurring a loss or missing an opportunity to obtain a price credited to be advantageous.
The market value of the securities underlying a when-issued purchase, forward commitment to purchase securities, or a delayed settlement and any subsequent fluctuations in their market value is taken into account when determining the market value of the Fund starting on the day the Fund agrees to purchase the securities. The Fund does not earn interest on the securities it has committed to purchase until it has paid for and delivered on the settlement date.
Illiquid and Restricted Securities
The Fund may invest up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities. Illiquid securities include securities subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale (e.g., because they have not been registered under the Securities Act) and securities that are otherwise not readily marketable (e.g., because trading in the security is suspended or because market makers do not exist or will not entertain bids or offers). Securities that have not been registered under the Securities Act are referred to as private placements or restricted securities and are purchased directly from the issuer or in the secondary market. Foreign securities that are freely tradable in their principal markets are not considered to be illiquid.
Restricted and other illiquid securities may be subject to the potential for delays on resale and uncertainty in valuation. The Fund might be unable to dispose of illiquid securities promptly or at reasonable prices and might thereby experience difficulty in satisfying redemption requests from shareholders. The Fund might have to register restricted securities in order to dispose of them, resulting in additional expense and delay. Adverse market conditions could impede such a public offering of securities.
A large institutional market exists for certain securities that are not registered under the Securities Act, including foreign securities. The fact that there are contractual or legal restrictions on resale to the general public or to certain institutions may not be indicative of the liquidity of such investments. Rule 144A under the Securities Act allows such a broader institutional trading market for securities otherwise subject to restrictions on resale to the general public. Rule 144A establishes a “safe harbor” from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for resale of certain securities to qualified institutional buyers. Rule 144A has produced enhanced liquidity for many restricted securities, and market liquidity for such securities may
34 continue to expand as a result of this regulation and the consequent existence of the PORTAL system, which is an automated system for the trading, clearance and settlement of unregistered securities of domestic and foreign issuers sponsored by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).
Under guidelines adopted by the Trust’s Board, the Adviser may determine that particular Rule 144A securities, and commercial paper issued in reliance on the private placement exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, are liquid even though they are not registered. A determination of whether such a security is liquid or not is a question of fact. In making this determination, the Adviser will consider, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances and among other factors: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers willing to purchase or sell the security; (3) the number of other potential purchasers of the security; (4) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; (5) the nature of the security (e.g., debt or equity, date of maturity, terms of dividend or interest payments, and other material terms) and the nature of the marketplace trades (e.g., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of transfer); and (6) the rating of the security and the financial condition and prospects of the issuer. In the case of commercial paper, the Adviser will also determine that the paper (1) is not traded flat or in default as to principal and interest, and (2) is rated in one of the two highest rating categories by at least two National Statistical Rating Organizations (“NRSROs”) or, if only one NRSRO rates the security, by that NRSRO, or, if the security is unrated, the Adviser determines that it is of equivalent quality.
Rule 144A securities and Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper that have been deemed liquid as described above will continue to be monitored by the Adviser to determine if the security is no longer liquid as the result of changed conditions. Investing in Rule 144A securities or Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper could have the effect of increasing the amount of the Fund’s assets invested in illiquid securities if institutional buyers are unwilling to purchase such securities.
Lending Portfolio Securities
For the purpose of achieving income, the Fund may lend its portfolio securities, provided (1) the loan is secured continuously by collateral consisting of U.S. Government securities or cash or cash equivalents (cash, U.S. Government securities, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the securities loaned, (2) the Fund may at any time call the loan and obtain the return of securities loaned, (3) the Fund will receive any interest or dividends received on the loaned securities, and (4) the aggregate value of the securities loaned will not at any time exceed one-third of the total assets of the Fund.
Short Sales
Short Sales Against The Box. The Fund may engage in short sales against the box. In a short sale, the Fund sells a borrowed security and has a corresponding obligation to the lender to return the identical security. The seller does not immediately deliver the securities sold and is said to have a short position in those securities until delivery occurs. The Fund may engage in a short sale if at the time of the short sale the Fund owns or has the right to obtain without
35 additional cost an equal amount of the security being sold short. This investment technique is known as a short sale “against the box.” It may be entered into by the Fund to, for example, lock in a sale price for a security the Fund does not wish to sell immediately. If the Fund engages in a short sale, the collateral for the short position will be segregated in an account with the Fund’s custodian or qualified sub-custodian.
The Fund may make a short sale as a hedge, when it believes that the price of a security may decline, causing a decline in the value of a security owned by the Fund (or a security convertible or exchangeable for such security). In such case, any future losses in the Fund’s long position should be offset by a gain in the short position and, conversely, any gain in the long position should be reduced by a loss in the short position. The extent to which such gains or losses are reduced will depend upon the amount of the security sold short relative to the amount the Fund owns. There will be certain additional transaction costs associated with short sales against the box, but the Fund will endeavor to offset these costs with the income from the investment of the cash proceeds of short sales.
If the Fund effects a short sale of securities at a time when it has an unrealized gain on the securities, it may be required to recognize that gain as if it had actually sold the securities (as a “constructive sale”) on the date it effects the short sale. However, such constructive sale treatment may not apply if the Fund closes out the short sale with securities other than the appreciated securities held at the time of the short sale and if certain other conditions are satisfied. Uncertainty regarding the tax consequences of effecting short sales may limit the extent to which the Fund may affect short sales.
Short Sales (excluding Short Sales “Against the Box”). The Fund may sell securities short. A short sale is a transaction in which the Fund sells securities it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market price of the securities.
To deliver the securities to the buyer, the Fund must arrange through a broker to borrow the securities and, in so doing, the Fund becomes obligated to replace the securities borrowed at their market price at the time of replacement, whatever that price may be. The Fund will make a profit or incur a loss as a result of a short sale depending on whether the price of the securities decreases or increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund purchases the security to replace the borrowed securities that have been sold. The amount of any loss would be increased (and any gain decreased) by any premium or interest the Fund is required to pay in connection with a short sale.
The Fund’s obligation to replace the securities borrowed in connection with a short sale will be secured by cash or liquid securities deposited as collateral with the broker. In addition, the Fund will place in a segregated account with its custodian or a qualified sub-custodian an amount of cash or liquid securities equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the market value of the securities sold at the time they were sold short and (ii) any cash or liquid securities deposited as collateral with the broker in connection with the short sale (not including the proceeds of the short sale). Until it replaces the borrowed securities, the Fund will maintain the segregated account daily at a level so that (a) the amount deposited in the account plus the amount deposited with the broker (not including the proceeds from the short sale) will equal the current market value of the securities sold short and (b) the amount deposited in the account plus the amount
36 deposited with the broker (not including the proceeds from the short sale) will not be less than the market value of the securities at the time they were sold short.
Underlying Funds
The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in corporations (including foreign corporations), limited partnerships and other pooled investment vehicles (“Underlying Funds”). Each Underlying Fund, or share class of the Underlying Fund, is managed by its own manager or trading adviser, pursuant to a proprietary strategy. The Underlying Funds may use a form of leverage often referred to as “notional funding” - that is the nominal trading level for an Underlying Fund will exceed the cash deposited in its trading accounts. For example, if the Underlying Fund manager wants the Underlying Fund to trade a $200,000,000 portfolio (the “nominal trading level”) the Underlying Fund’s margin requirement may be $10,000,000. The Underlying Fund can either deposit $200,000,000 to “fully fund” the account or can deposit only a portion of the $200,000,000, provided that the amount deposited meets the account’s ongoing minimum margin requirements. The difference between the amount of cash deposited in the account and the nominal trading level of the account is referred to as notional funding. The use of notional funding (i.e., leverage) will increase the volatility of the Underlying Funds. In addition, the leverage may make the Underlying Funds subject to more frequent margin calls. Being forced to raise cash at inopportune times to meet margin calls may prevent the Underlying Fund manager from making investments it considers optimal. As currently structured, the cash deposited in the trading account for each Underlying Fund will be available to meet the margin requirements of any share class of the Underlying Fund. However, additional funds to meet margin calls are available only to the extent of the Underlying Fund’s assets and not from the Subsidiary or the Fund. Underlying Fund management fees are based on the nominal trading level and not the cash deposited in the trading account. For illustration purposes only, assume an Underlying Fund has assets of $50 million. The Underlying Fund is notionally funded and uses a nominal trading level of $200 million. The Underlying Fund pays its manager an annual management fee of 1% of the nominal account size, or $2,000,000. While the management fee represents 1% of the nominal account size ($200 million), the management fee represents 4% of the cash deposited ($50 million) in the Underlying Fund’s trading account. The Underlying Funds are typically offered privately and no public market for such securities will exist.
Investment Restrictions
Fundamental Investment Limitations. The investment limitations described below have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund and are fundamental (“Fundamental”), i.e., they may not be changed without the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. As used in the Prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information, the term “majority” of the outstanding shares of the Fund means the lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund present at a meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented at such meeting; or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Other investment practices, which may be changed by the Board of Trustees without the approval of shareholders to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation or regulatory policy, are considered non-fundamental (“Non-Fundamental”).
37 1. Borrowing Money. The Fund will not borrow money, except: (a) from a bank, provided that immediately after such borrowing there is an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings of the Fund; or (b) from a bank or other persons for temporary purposes only, provided that such temporary borrowings are in an amount not exceeding 5% of the Fund’s total assets at the time when the borrowing is made. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from entering into reverse repurchase transactions, provided that the Fund has an asset coverage of 300% for all borrowings and repurchase commitments of the Fund pursuant to reverse repurchase transactions.
2. Senior Securities. The Fund will not issue senior securities. This limitation is not applicable to activities that may be deemed to involve the issuance or sale of a senior security by the Fund, provided that the Fund’s engagement in such activities is consistent with or permitted by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or interpretations of the SEC or its staff.
3. Underwriting. The Fund will not act as underwriter of securities issued by other persons. This limitation is not applicable to the extent that, in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities (including restricted securities), the Fund may be deemed an underwriter under certain federal securities laws.
4. Real Estate. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate. This limitation is not applicable to investments in marketable securities that are secured by or represent interests in real estate. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from investing in mortgage-related securities or investing in companies engaged in the real estate business or that have a significant portion of their assets in real estate (including real estate investment trusts).
5. Commodities. The Fund will not purchase or sell commodities unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other investments. This limitation does not preclude the Fund from purchasing or selling options or futures contracts, from investing in securities or other instruments backed by commodities or from investing in companies, which are engaged in a commodities business or have a significant portion of their assets in commodities.
6. Loans. The Fund will not make loans to other persons, except: (a) by loaning portfolio securities; (b) by engaging in repurchase agreements; (c) by purchasing non-publicly offered debt securities; or (d) where each loan is represented by a note executed by the borrower. For purposes of this limitation, the term “loans” shall not include the purchase of a portion of an issue of publicly distributed bonds, debentures or other securities.
7. Concentration. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in a particular industry or group of industries. The Fund will not invest 25% or more of its total assets in any investment company that concentrates. This limitation is not applicable to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities or repurchase agreements with respect thereto.
With respect to the percentages adopted by the Trust as maximum limitations on its investment policies and limitations, an excess above the fixed percentage will not be a violation of the policy or limitation unless the excess results immediately and directly from the acquisition
38 of any security or the action taken. This paragraph does not apply to the borrowing policy set forth in paragraph 1 above.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing limitations, any investment company, whether organized as a trust, association or corporation, or a personal holding company, may be merged or consolidated with or acquired by the Trust, provided that if such merger, consolidation or acquisition results in an investment in the securities of any issuer prohibited by said paragraphs, the Trust shall, within ninety days after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition, dispose of all of the securities of such issuer so acquired or such portion thereof as shall bring the total investment therein within the limitations imposed by said paragraphs above as of the date of consummation.
Non-Fundamental. The following limitations have been adopted by the Trust with respect to the Fund and are Non-Fundamental (see “Investment Limitations - Fundamental” above).
1. Pledging. The Fund will not mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or in any manner transfer, as security for indebtedness, any assets of the Fund except as may be necessary in connection with borrowings described in limitation (1) above. Margin deposits, security interests, liens and collateral arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, futures contracts, short sales and other permitted investments and techniques are not deemed to be a mortgage, pledge or hypothecation of assets for purposes of this limitation.
2. Borrowing. The Fund will not purchase any security while borrowings (including reverse repurchase agreements) representing more than one third of its total assets are outstanding.
3. Margin Purchases. The Fund will not purchase securities or evidences of interest thereon on “margin.” This limitation is not applicable to short-term credit obtained by the Fund for the clearance of purchases and sales or redemption of securities, or to arrangements with respect to transactions involving options, or futures contracts.
4. Illiquid Investments. The Fund will not invest 15% or more of its net assets in securities for which there are legal or contractual restrictions on resale and other illiquid securities.
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
The Board of Trustees supervises the business activities of the Trust and appoints the officers. Each Trustee serves as a trustee until the termination of the Trust unless the Trustee dies, resigns, retires or is removed. As of the date of this SAI, the Fund along with Fallen Angels Income Fund, CCA Aggressive Return Fund, AINN Fund, Towpath Focus Fund, Towpath Technology Fund, and One Rock Fund are the only series in the “Fund Complex”. The Board generally meets four times a year to review the progress and status of the Fund Complex.
39 Board Leadership Structure
The Trust is led by Gregory B. Getts, who has served as the Chairman of the Board since October 2016. Mr. Getts is an “interested person” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by virtue of his controlling interest in Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC (the Trust’s transfer agent and fund accountant) and Arbor Court Capital, LLC (the Fund’s distributor). The Board of Trustees is comprised of Mr. Getts and two other Trustees, neither of whom are an interested person (“Independent Trustees”). The Independent Trustees have not selected a Lead Independent Trustee. Additionally, under certain 1940 Act governance guidelines that apply to the Trust, the Independent Trustees will meet in executive session, at least quarterly. Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, the Chairman of the Board is responsible for (a) presiding at board meetings, (b) calling special meetings on an as-needed basis, and, more generally, in-practice (c) execution and administration of Trust policies including (i) setting the agendas for board meetings and (ii) providing information to board members in advance of each board meeting and between board meetings. Generally, the Trust believes it best to have a single leader who is seen by shareholders, business partners and other stakeholders as providing strong leadership. The Trust believes that its Chairman together with the Audit Committee and the full Board of Trustees, provide effective leadership that is in the best interests of the Trust and the Fund shareholders because of the Board’s collective business acumen and understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate.
Board Risk Oversight
The Board of Trustees is comprised of Mr. Getts and two Independent Trustees with a standing independent Audit Committee with a separate chair. The Board is responsible for overseeing risk management, and the full Board regularly engages in discussions of risk management and receives compliance reports that inform its oversight of risk management from its Chief Compliance Officer at quarterly meetings and on an ad hoc basis, when and if necessary. The Audit Committee considers financial and reporting risk within its area of responsibilities. Generally, the Board believes that its oversight of material risks is adequately maintained through the compliance-reporting chain where the Chief Compliance Officer is the primary recipient and communicator of such risk-related information, and the Audit Committee’s communications with the independent registered public accounting firm.
Trustee Qualifications
Generally, the Trust believes that each Trustee is competent to serve because of their individual overall merits including: (i) experience, (ii) qualifications, (iii) attributes, and (iv) skills.
Dr. Gregory B. Getts – Interested Trustee – Dr. Getts is the owner/President of Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC since 1999. MSS provides transfer agency and accounting services to mutual funds. Since 2012, Dr. Getts is owner of Arbor Court Capital, LLC, which is a mutual fund distributor. Dr. Getts earned his Master and Ph.D. in operations research from Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Getts worked in the mutual fund industry since approximately 1980, and has extensive knowledge and expertise in the industry. He pioneered his way in the
40 industry by writing computer software for transfer agent and accounting services that MSS currently uses in its operations. Dr. Getts has been published three times in regards to portfolio risk management and planning. He also developed a PC game for stock and option simulation that was published by Addison-Wesley. Dr. Getts holds Series 7, 23, 24, 27, and 63 designations.
Paul K. Rode Esq. – Independent Trustee – Mr. Rode is a 2003 graduate of Wittenberg University with a B.A. in political science, and a 2006 graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law with a J.D. Mr. Rode was admitted to the State Bar of Ohio in 2006, as well as the Northern District Federal Court of Ohio. He belongs to the Ohio State Bar Association, and has been employed at Keith D. Weiner & Assoc. Co. L.P.A. since September 2005. He primarily practices as a litigator and primary brief-writer in the collections department. Mr. Rode is very knowledgeable and experienced in contract law. His contact knowledge is valuable as the Trust enters into and renews various service provider contracts annually. He would also provide great value in the event the Trust finds itself having to enforce or interpret a contract.
Michael Young – Independent Trustee – Mr. Young is a former Senior Federal Security Director that retired from federal service after 41.5 years and is currently a Practitioner/Consultant for the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Young spent 26 years with the United States Secret Service, and worked in investigative and protective divisions, both domestic and foreign. Mr. Young is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in Industrial Management, where he was a Distinguished Military Graduate and received a Regular Army Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant upon entering Active Duty. He served with the 1st Air Cavalry Division for four years in various assignments to include small unit and reconnaissance operations, Division Counterintelligence Operations Officer and Tactical Intelligence Officer. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry, Ranger and Airborne Schools along with the Army’s Tactical and Counterintelligence Schools at Fort Huachuca. Mr. Young is very experienced with setting up efficient and technical operations. His risk management skills will assist the Trust in the continual development of internal controls and processes, as well as asset oversight.
Each of the Independent Trustees possesses a strong understanding of the regulatory framework under which investment companies must operate based on their years of service to this Board. The Trust does not believe any one factor is determinative in assessing a Trustee’s qualifications, but that the collective experience of each Trustee makes the Board highly effective.
The following table provides information regarding each Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
41 Number of Portfolios Term in Fund Position(s) of Office/ Principal Complex1 Other Held Length Occupation(s) Overseen Directorships Name Address and with the of Time During by Held by Year of Birth Trust Served Past 5 Years Trustee Trustee Paul K. Rode, Esq. Attorney, Keith D. 8000 Town Centre Weiner & Assoc. Co. Indefinite/ Drive, Suite 400, L.P.A. since September Trustee October 7 None Broadview Heights, 2005 2016- present OH 44147 Year: 1980 Michael Young November 2013-Present: 8000 Town Centre Consultant/Practitioner Drive, Suite 400, for Purdue, Rutgers and Broadview Heights, Northeastern Universities; Indefinite/ OH 44147 June 2002-November Trustee October 2016 7 None Year: 1950 2013: Senior Federal - present Security Director for U.S. Department of Homeland Security
1The “Fund Complex” consists of MSS Series Trust.
The following table provides information regarding each Trustee who is an “interested person” of the Trust, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and each officer of the Trust.
Number of Term Portfolios Position(s) of Office/ Principal in Fund Other Held Length Occupation(s) Complex2 Directorships Name Address and with the of Time During Overseen Held by Year of Birth Trust Served Past 5 Years by Trustee Trustee Dr. Gregory B. Getts 1 Owner/President, Mutual 8000 Town Centre Indefinite/ Shareholder Services, LLC, Drive, Suite 400, Trustee and October 2016 since 1999; Owner/President 7 None Broadview Heights, President - present Arbor Court Capital, LLC, OH 44147 since January 2012. Year: 1957 Accountant, Mutual Treasurer, Shareholder Services, LLC, Brandon M. Pokersnik Secretary since 2008; Attorney Mutual Indefinite/ 8000 Town Centre and Chief Shareholder Services, LLC, October 2016 NA NA Drive, Suite 400, Compliance since June 2016; - present Broadview Heights, Officer Owner/President, Empirical OH 44147 Administration, LLC, since Year: 1978 September 2012. 1 Gregory B. Getts is considered an “Interested” Trustee as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, because he is an officer of the Trust and President/owner of the Fund’s transfer agent, fund accountant, and distributor. 2The “Fund Complex” consists of MSS Series Trust.
42 The Trust’s audit committee consists of Paul Rode and Michael Young. The audit committee is responsible for (i) overseeing the accounting and financial reporting policies and practices of the Fund, their internal controls and, as appropriate, the internal controls of certain service providers; (ii) overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Fund’s financial statements and the independent audit of the financial statements; and (iii) acting as a liaison between the Fund’s independent auditors and the full Board of Trustees. None of the audit committee members are “Interested” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. For the twelve months ended November 30, 2019, the Audit Committee held four meetings.
As of December 31, 2019, the Trustees beneficially owned the following amounts in the Fund:
Aggregate Dollar Name of Trustee or Dollar Range of Securities in the Footprints Range of Officer Discover Value Fund Securities In Trust Gregory B. Getts None None Paul Rode None None Michael Young None None
The following table describes the compensation paid to the Trustees for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019. Trustees of the Fund who are deemed “interested persons” of the Trust receive no compensation from the Fund.
Aggregate Compensation from the Footprints Total Compensation Name Discover Value Fund from Trust Gregory B. Getts $0 $0 Paul Rode $1,200 $4,800 Michael Young $1,200 $4,800
Each non-interested Trustee receives $300 per quarterly meeting attended. The Trust is comprised of the Fund, Fallen Angels Income Fund, CCA Aggressive Return Fund, AINN Fund, Towpath Focus Fund, Towpath Technology Fund, and One Rock Fund.
CODE OF ETHICS
Pursuant to the requirements of rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and in order to protect against certain unlawful acts, practices and courses of business by certain individuals or entities related to the Fund, the Fund and the Adviser have adopted a Code of Ethics and procedures for implementing the provisions of the Code. The personnel of the Fund and the Adviser are subject to the code of ethics when investing in securities that may be purchased, sold or held by the Fund.
43 DISTRIBUTION PLAN
The Fund has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Plan”). The Plan permits the Fund to pay Arbor Court Capital, LLC (the “Distributor”) for certain distribution and promotion expenses related to marketing shares of the Fund. The amount payable annually by the Fund is 0.25% of its average daily net assets. The Plan is a compensation style plan which means the Fund accrues expenses and pays the Distributor based upon the percentage described above rather than on actual expenses incurred by the Distributor.
Under the Plan, the Trust may engage in any activities related to the distribution of Fund shares, including without limitation the following: (a) payments, including incentive compensation, to securities dealers or other financial intermediaries, financial institutions, investment advisers and others that are engaged in the sale of shares of the Fund, or that may be advising shareholders of the Trust regarding the purchase, sale or retention of shares of the Fund; (b) expenses of maintaining personnel (including personnel of organizations with which the Trust has entered into agreements related to this Plan) who engage in or support distribution of shares of the Fund; (c) costs of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses and statements of additional information and reports of the Fund for recipients other than existing shareholders of the Fund; (d) costs of formulating and implementing marketing and promotional activities, including, but not limited to, sales seminars, direct mail promotions and television, radio, newspaper, magazine and other mass media advertising; (e) costs of preparing, printing and distributing sales literature; (f) costs of obtaining such information, analyses and reports with respect to marketing and promotional activities as the Trust may, from time to time, deem advisable; and (g) costs of implementing and operating this Plan.
For the fiscal period ended November 30, 2018, the Adviser received (including amounts accrued) $9,938 in distribution fees from the Fund. Approximately $9,938 of the distribution fees received by the Adviser were used to pay for Fund advertising. During the fiscal period ended November 30, 2018, the Adviser paid $0 to broker-dealers for sales of Fund shares and distribution services. For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Adviser received (including amounts accrued) $8,555 in distribution fees from the Fund. Approximately $8,555 of the distribution fees received by the Adviser were used to pay for Fund advertising. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Adviser paid $0 to broker-dealers for sales of Fund shares and distribution services.
The Trustees expect that the Plan could significantly enhance the Fund’s ability to expand distribution of shares of the Fund. It is also anticipated that an increase in the size of the Fund will produce economies of scale that benefit the shareholders, facilitate more efficient portfolio management, and assist the Fund in seeking to achieve its investment objective.
The Plan has been approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or any related agreement, by a vote cast in person. Continuation of the Plan and the related agreements must be approved by the Trustees annually, in the same manner, and the Plan or any related agreement may be terminated at any time without penalty by a majority of such independent Trustees or by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
44 Any amendment increasing the maximum percentage payable under the Plan or other material change must be approved by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and all other material amendments to the Plan or any related agreement must be approved by a majority of the independent Trustees.
45 CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
Control Persons
A principal shareholder is any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund. A control person is one who owns beneficially or through controlled companies more than 25% of the voting securities of a company or acknowledged the existence of control.
The following table provides the name and address of any person who owns of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund as of March 13, 2020.
Percentage Name and Address Shares of Fund
The Dan Shoemaker Revocable Trust 3140 Plymouth Ave., Lincoln, NE 68502 6.43%
Footprints Asset Management & Research, 11422 Miracle Hills Drive, Suite 208, Inc. Omaha, NE 68154 16.21%
Jennifer Cook 2044 Trail Road, Sidney, NE 69162 7.09%
Stephen J. Lococo 3234 N. 162nd Avenue Circle, NE 68116 5.54%
Phillip R. Shoemaker Revocable Trust 3010 S. 35th Street, Lincoln, NE, 68506 6.12%
Management Ownership
As of the date of this SAI, the Trustees and officers of the Trust, as a group, owned 0% of the shares of the Fund.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES
Investment Adviser
The Adviser, Footprints Asset Management & Research, Inc., 11422 Miracle Hills Drive, Suite 208, Omaha, NE 68154, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for management of the Fund’s investment
46 portfolio. The Adviser is responsible for selecting the Fund’s investments according to the Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions. The Adviser was established in 2003 for the purpose of providing investment and financial planning advice to individuals and institutions. As of March 1, 2020, it had approximately $87.07 million in assets under management. The Adviser is deemed to be controlled by Steve J. Lococo by virtue of his ownership of a majority of the shares of the Adviser.
Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Trust, on behalf of the Fund (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser receives from the Fund, on a monthly basis, an annual advisory fee equivalent to 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Advisory Agreement shall continue in effect for two (2) years initially and shall continue from year to year provided such continuance is approved at least annually by (a) a vote of the majority of the Independent Trustees, cast in person at a meeting specifically called for the purpose of voting on such approval and by (b) the majority vote of either all of the Trustees or the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The Advisory Agreement may be terminated without penalty on no more than 60 days’ written notice by a vote of a majority of the Trustees or the Adviser, or by holders of a majority of that Trust’s outstanding shares. The Advisory Agreement shall terminate automatically in the event of its assignment. During the fiscal period ended November 30, 2018, the Fund accrued $39,752 in advisory fees payable to the Adviser, of which the Adviser waived $39,752. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Fund accrued $34,218 in advisory fees payable to the Adviser, of which the Adviser waived $34,218.
The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its fees and reimburse expenses of the Fund, at least until March 30, 2021, to ensure that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Reimbursement (exclusive of any front-end or contingent deferred loads; brokerage fees and commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses; borrowing costs (such as interest and dividend expense on securities sold short); taxes; and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation expenses (which may include indemnification of Fund officers and Trustees, and contractual indemnification of Fund service providers (other than the Adviser)) will not exceed 1.95% of average daily net assets. These fee waivers and expense reimbursements are subject to possible recoupment from the Fund within three years after the date of the waiver or reimbursement, if such recoupment is approved by the Board. The Fund may only make a repayment to the adviser if such repayment does not cause the Fund’s expenses, after the repayment is taken into account, to exceed both (1) the expense cap in place at the time the expenses were waived, and (2) any then-current expense cap. This agreement may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees, on 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser. Fee waiver and reimbursement arrangements can decrease a Fund’s expenses and boost its performance.
Steve J. Lococo is the portfolio manager responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. As of November 30, 2019, Mr. Lococo also is responsible for the management of the following other types of accounts:
47 Number Number of of Accounts by Total Assets By Accounts Type Subject Account Type by to a Subject to a Account Account Total Assets By Performance Performance Type Type Account Type Fee Fee Registered 0 $0 Investment 1 $2,829,831 Companies Other 1 $664,018 1 $664,018 Pooled Investment Vehicles Other 157 $299,421,786 0 $0 Accounts
In general, when a portfolio manager has responsibility for managing more than one account, potential conflicts of interest may arise. Those conflicts could include preferential treatment of one account over others in terms of allocation of resources or of investment opportunities. For instance, the Adviser may receive fees from certain accounts that are higher than the fee it receives from the Fund, or it could receive a performance-based fee on certain accounts. The procedures to address conflicts of interest, if any, are described below.
The Adviser attempts to avoid conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of the management of multiple client accounts. From time to time, the Adviser may recommend or cause a client to invest in a security in which another client of the Adviser has an ownership position. The Adviser has each adopted certain procedures intended to treat all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. To the extent that the Adviser seeks to purchase or sell the same security for multiple client accounts, the Adviser may aggregate, or bunch, these orders where it deems this to be appropriate and consistent with applicable regulatory requirements. When a bunched order is filled in its entirety, each participating client account will participate at the average share prices for the bunched order. When a bunched order is only partially filled, the securities purchased will be allocated on a pro-rata basis to each account participating in the bunched order based upon the initial amount requested for the account, subject to certain exceptions. Each participating account will receive the average share price for the bunched order on the same business day.
For services as Portfolio Manager to the Fund, Mr. Lococo receives a fixed salary from the Adviser and will also share in its profits, if any.
The following table shows the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the portfolio manager in the Fund as of November 30, 2019.
Name of Portfolio Manager Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund
Steve J. Lococo $100,001–$500,000
48 Custodian
US Bank, N.A., 1555 N. River Center Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212, serves as the Fund’s custodian (“Custodian”). The Custodian acts as the Fund’s depository, provides safekeeping of its portfolio securities, collects all income and other payments with respect thereto, disburses funds at the Fund’s request and maintains records in connection with its duties.
Fund Services
Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC (“MSS”), 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147-4003, acts as the transfer agent (“Transfer Agent”) for the Fund. MSS maintains the records of the shareholder’s account, answers shareholders’ inquiries concerning their accounts, processes purchases and redemptions of the Fund’s shares, acts as dividend and distribution disbursing agent and performs other transfer agent and shareholder service functions. MSS receives an annual fee from the Trust of $11.50 per shareholder (subject to a minimum monthly fee of $775.00 per fund) for these transfer agency services.
In addition, MSS provides the Fund with fund accounting services, which includes certain monthly reports, record-keeping and other management-related services. For its services as fund accountant (“Fund Accounting Agent”), MSS receives an annual fee from the Trust based on the average value of the Fund. These fees are: from $0 to $25 million in assets the annual fee is $21,000, from $25 million to $50 million in assets the annual fee is $30,500, from $50 million to $75 million in assets the annual fee is $36,250, from $75 million to $100 million in assets the annual fee is $42,000, from $100 million to $125 million in assets the annual fee is $47,750, from $125 million to $150 million in assets the annual fee is $53,500, and for asset above $150 million the annual fee is $59,250. The Trust will receive a discount ranging from 10-60% depending on the net assets of each Trust until the Trust reaches $10 million in assets.
During the fiscal period ended November 30, 2018, the Fund paid $17,082 to MSS for transfer agent and fund accounting services. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Fund paid $4,465 to MSS for transfer agent services and $10,660 for fund accounting services.
Administrator
Empirical Administration, LLC (“Empirical”), 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, Ohio, 44147, serves as the Fund’s Administrator. Empirical is paid $500 a month for its administration services.
During the fiscal period ended November 30, 2018, the Fund paid $5,500 to Empirical for administrative services. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Fund paid $6,000 to Empirical for administrative services.
Compliance Services
Empirical Administration, LLC (“Empirical”), 8000 Town Centre Drive, Suite 400, Broadview Heights, Ohio, 44147, provides compliance services. Empirical is paid $500 a month for its compliance services. Brandon Pokersnik of Empirical is also the CCO of the Trust.
49 During the fiscal period ended November 30, 2018, the Fund paid $5,500 to Empirical for compliance services. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2019, the Fund paid $6,000 to Empirical for compliance services.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The firm of Sanville & Company Certified Public Accountants, 1514 Old York Road, Abington, PA 19001, has been selected as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2020. Sanville & Company will perform an annual audit of the Fund’s financial statements and provides tax services as requested.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
Subject to policies established by the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the Fund’s portfolio decisions and the placing of the Fund’s portfolio transactions. In placing portfolio transactions, the Adviser seeks the best qualitative execution for the Fund, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), the execution capability, financial responsibility and responsiveness of the broker or dealer and the brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. The Adviser generally seeks favorable prices and commission rates that are reasonable in relation to the benefits received.
The Adviser is specifically authorized to select brokers or dealers who also provide brokerage and research services to the Fund and/or the other accounts over which the Adviser exercises investment discretion, and to pay such brokers or dealers a commission in excess of the commission another broker or dealer would charge if the Adviser determines in good faith that the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. The determination may be viewed in terms of a particular transaction or the Adviser’s overall responsibilities with respect to the Trust and to other accounts over which it exercises investment discretion. The Adviser may not give consideration to sales of shares of the Trust as a factor in the selection of brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions. However, the Adviser may place portfolio transactions with brokers or dealers that promote or sell the Fund’s shares so long as such placements are made pursuant to policies approved by the Board of Trustees that are designed to ensure that the selection is based on the quality of the broker’s execution and not on its sales efforts.
Research services include supplemental research, securities and economic analyses, statistical services and information with respect to the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities, and analyses of reports concerning performance of accounts. The research services and other information furnished by brokers through whom the Fund effects securities transactions may also be used by the Adviser in servicing all of its accounts. Similarly, research and information provided by brokers or dealers serving other clients may be useful to the Adviser in connection with its services to the Fund. Although research services and other information are useful to the Fund and the Adviser, it is not possible to place a dollar value on the research and other information received. It is the opinion of the Board of Trustees and the Adviser that the review and study of the research and other information will not reduce the overall cost to the Adviser of performing its duties to the Fund under the Agreement.
50 Over-the-counter transactions will be placed either directly with principal market makers or with broker-dealers, if the same or a better price, including commissions and executions, is available. Fixed income securities are normally purchased directly from the issuer, an underwriter or a market maker. Purchases include a concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter and the purchase price paid to a market maker may include the spread between the bid and asked prices.
The Adviser attempts to avoid conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of the management of multiple client accounts. From time to time, the Adviser may recommend or cause a client to invest in a security in which another client of the Adviser has an ownership position. The Adviser has each adopted certain procedures intended to treat all client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. To the extent that the Adviser seeks to purchase or sell the same security for multiple client accounts, the Adviser may aggregate, or bunch, these orders where it deems this to be appropriate and consistent with applicable regulatory requirements. When a bunched order is filled in its entirety, each participating client account will participate at the average share prices for the bunched order. When a bunched order is only partially filled, the securities purchased will be allocated on a pro-rata basis to each account participating in the bunched order based upon the initial amount requested for the account, subject to certain exceptions. Each participating account will receive the average share price for the bunched order on the same business day.
During the fiscal period ended November 30, 2018, the Fund paid brokerage commissions of $39,466. During the fiscal period ended November 30, 2019, the Fund paid brokerage commissions of $55,203.
Portfolio Turnover
The portfolio turnover rate for the Fund is calculated by dividing the lesser of the Fund’s purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the year by the monthly average value of the portfolio securities. The calculation excludes all securities whose remaining maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less. The portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year as well as within a particular year, and may also be affected by cash requirements for redemptions of shares. High portfolio turnover rates will generally result in higher transaction costs, including brokerage commissions, to the Fund and may result in additional tax consequences to the Fund’s Shareholders. For the fiscal period ended November 30, 2019, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 105.39%.
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS
The Fund are required to include a schedule of portfolio holdings in its annual and semi- annual reports to shareholders, which is sent to shareholders within 60 days of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters and which is filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR within 70 days of the end of the second and fourth fiscal quarters. The Fund also is required to file a schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q within 60 days of the end of the first and third fiscal quarters. The Fund must provide a copy of the complete schedule of portfolio holdings as filed with the SEC to any shareholder of the Fund, upon request, free of charge. This policy is applied uniformly to all shareholders of the Fund without regard to the type of
51 requesting shareholder (i.e., regardless of whether the shareholder is an individual or institutional investor). The Fund may enter into ongoing arrangements to release portfolio holdings to rating agencies, such as Morningstar or Lipper, in order for the agencies to assign a rating or ranking to the Fund. Portfolio holdings will be supplied to rating agencies no more frequently than quarterly and only after the Fund has filed a Form N-CSR or Form N-Q with the SEC. The Fund currently does not have any ongoing arrangements to release portfolio holdings information to rating agencies.
Pursuant to policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Fund has ongoing arrangements to release portfolio holdings information on a daily basis to the Adviser, Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent and Custodian and on an as needed basis to other third parties providing services to the Fund. The Adviser, Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent and Custodian receive portfolio holdings information daily in order to carry out the essential operations of the Fund. The Fund discloses portfolio holdings to its auditors (Sanville & Company), legal counsel (Thompson Hine LLP), proxy voting services (if applicable), pricing services, printers, parties to merger and reorganization agreements and their agents, and prospective or newly hired investment advisers or sub-advisers. The lag between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed will vary based on the identity of the party to whom the information is disclosed. For instance, the information may be provided to auditors within days of the end of an annual period, while the information may be given to legal counsel at any time.
The Fund makes publicly available on a semi-annual basis an updated list of the Fund’s top ten holdings, sector weightings and other Fund characteristics. This information is made available on the Fund’s website www.footprintsfund.com. The same information may also be included in printed marketing materials. The information is updated monthly and is usually available within 5 days of the month end. The Fund’s Form N-CSR and Form N-Q will contain the Fund’s entire list of portfolio holdings as of the applicable quarter end.
The Fund, the Adviser, the Transfer Agent, the Fund Accounting Agent and the Custodian are prohibited from entering into any special or ad hoc arrangements with any person to make available information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings without the specific approval of the Board. Any party wishing to release portfolio holdings information on an ad hoc or special basis must submit any proposed arrangement to the Board, which will review the arrangement to determine (i) whether the arrangement is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders, (ii) the information will be kept confidential (based on the factors discussed below), (iii) whether sufficient protections are in place to guard against personal trading based on the information, and (iv) whether the disclosure presents a conflict of interest between the interests of Fund shareholders and those of the Adviser, or any affiliated person of the Fund or the Adviser. Additionally, the Adviser, and any affiliated persons of the Adviser, are prohibited from receiving compensation or other consideration, for themselves or on behalf of the Fund, as a result of disclosing the Fund’s portfolio holdings.
Information disclosed to third parties, whether on an ongoing or ad hoc basis, is disclosed under conditions of confidentiality. “Conditions of confidentiality” include (i) confidentiality clauses in written agreements, (ii) confidentiality implied by the nature of the relationship (e.g., attorney-client relationship), (iii) confidentiality required by fiduciary or regulatory principles
52 (e.g., custody relationships) or (iv) understandings or expectations between the parties that the information will be kept confidential. The agreements with the Fund’s Adviser, Transfer Agent, Fund Accounting Agent and Custodian contain confidentiality clauses, which the Board and these parties have determined extend to the disclosure of nonpublic information about the Fund’s portfolio holding and the duty not to trade on the non-public information. The Fund believes, based upon its size and history, that these are reasonable procedures to protect the confidentiality of the Fund’s portfolio holdings and will provide sufficient protection against personal trading based on the information.
DETERMINATION OF SHARE PRICE
The price (net asset value) of the shares of the Fund is determined at the close of trading (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. For a description of the methods used to determine the net asset value, see “How to Buy Shares – Purchasing Shares” in the prospectus.
Equity securities generally are valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service when the Adviser believes such prices accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. Securities that are traded on any stock exchange or on the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued by the pricing service at the last quoted sale price. Lacking a last sale price, an equity security is generally valued by the pricing service at its last bid price. When market quotations are not readily available, when the Adviser determines that the market quotation or the price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the current market value, or when restricted or illiquid securities are being valued, such securities are valued as determined in good faith by the Adviser, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board of Trustees of the Trust.
Fixed income securities generally are valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service when the Adviser believes such prices accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. A pricing service utilizes electronic data processing techniques based on yield spreads relating to securities with similar characteristics to determine prices for normal institutional-size trading units of debt securities without regard to sale or bid prices. If the Adviser decides that a price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the fair market value of the securities, when prices are not readily available from a pricing service, or when restricted or illiquid securities are being valued, securities are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board of Trustees. Short term investments in fixed income securities with maturities of less than 60 days when acquired, or which subsequently are within 60 days of maturity, are valued by using the amortized cost method of valuation, which the Board has determined will represent fair value.
TAX CONSEQUENCES
The Fund intends to continue to qualify under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. Under provisions of Sub-Chapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended, the Fund, by paying out substantially all of its investment income and realized capital gains,
53 intends to be relieved of federal income tax on the amounts distributed to shareholders. In order to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under Sub-Chapter M, at least 90% of the Fund’s income must be derived from dividends, interest and gains from securities transactions, and no more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets may be in two or more securities that exceed 5% of the total assets of the Fund at the time of each security’s purchase. Not qualifying under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code would cause the Fund to be considered a personal holding company subject to normal corporate income taxes. The Fund then would be liable for federal income tax on the capital gains and net investment income distributed to its shareholders, resulting in a second level of taxation that would substantially reduce net after-tax returns from the Fund. Any subsequent dividend distribution of the Fund’s earnings after taxes would still be taxable as received by shareholders.
Tax Distribution: The Fund’s distributions (capital gains and dividend income), whether received by shareholders in cash or reinvested in additional shares of the Fund, may be subject to federal income tax payable by shareholders. All income realized by the Fund including short- term capital gains, will be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income. Dividends from net income will be made annually or more frequently at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. Dividends received shortly after purchase of Fund shares by an investor will have the effect of reducing the per share net asset value of his/her shares by the amount of such dividends or distributions. You should consult a tax adviser regarding the effect of federal, state, local, and foreign taxes on an investment in the Fund.
Federal Withholding: The Fund is required by federal law to withhold 31% of reportable payments (which may include dividends, capital gains, distributions and redemptions) paid to shareholders who have not complied with IRS regulations. In order to avoid this withholding requirement, you must certify on a W-9 tax form supplied by the Fund that your Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number provided is correct and that you are not currently subject to back-up withholding, or that you are exempt from back-up withholding.
Medicare Tax: For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, an additional 3.8% Medicare tax generally will be imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Fund shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that any such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceeds certain threshold amounts. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors about the application of federal, state, local and foreign tax law in light of their particular situation. Should additional series, or funds, be created by the Trustees, the Fund would be treated as a separate tax entity for federal tax purposes.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act: Payments to a shareholder that is either a foreign financial institution (“FFI”) or a non-financial foreign entity (“NFFE”) within the meaning of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) may be subject to a generally nonrefundable 30% withholding tax on: (a) income dividends paid by the Fund after June 30, 2014 and (b) certain capital gain distributions and the proceeds arising from the sale of Fund shares paid by the Fund after December 31, 2016. FATCA withholding tax generally can be avoided: (a) by an FFI, subject to any applicable intergovernmental agreement or other exemption, if it enters into a valid agreement with the IRS to, among other requirements, report required information about
54 certain direct and indirect ownership of foreign financial accounts held by U.S. persons with the FFI and (b) by an NFFE, if it: (i) certifies that it has no substantial U.S. persons as owners or (ii) if it does have such owners, reports information relating to them. The Fund may disclose the information that it receives from its shareholders to the IRS, non-U.S. taxing authorities or other parties as necessary to comply with FATCA. Withholding also may be required if a foreign entity that is a shareholder of the Fund fails to provide the Fund with appropriate certifications or other documentation concerning its status under FATCA.
Tax Loss Carryforward: Under current tax law, net capital losses realized after October 31st and net ordinary losses incurred after December 31st may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first day of the following fiscal year. The Fund’s carryforward losses, post- October losses and post December losses are determined only at the end of each fiscal year. Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, net capital losses recognized after December 31, 2010, may be carried forward indefinitely, and their character is retained as short-term and/or long-term. As of November 30, 2019, the Fund had no short-term capital loss carryforwards and $254,155 in long-term capital loss carryforwards.
PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Board of Trustees of the Trust has delegated responsibilities for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Adviser or its designee. The Adviser or its designee will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures. The policies require that the Adviser or its designee vote proxies received in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Fund and shareholders. A summary of the Adviser’s proxy policies and procedures are attached to this SAI.
MORE INFORMATION. The actual voting records relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 will be available without charge, upon request, by calling toll free, 1-877-328-5468 or by accessing the Fund’s website at www.footprintsfund.com. The information also will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Trust’s proxy voting policies and procedures are also available by calling 1-877-328-5468 and will be sent within three business days of receipt of a request.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
You can obtain a copy of the Fund’s future Semi-Annual Reports and Annual Reports without charge by calling toll free, 1-877-328-5468.
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